Muted Opening for ‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ Despite Late Legal Clearance

February 28, 2026 — The highly anticipated and equally controversial sequel, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, witnessed a lukewarm start at the domestic box office on its opening day. Despite a last-minute legal victory in the Kerala High Court, the film struggled to replicate the massive opening momentum of its 2023 predecessor.

The film, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, collected approximately ₹3.50 crore on Friday. In comparison, the original The Kerala Story had debuted with over ₹8 crore, eventually becoming a massive commercial hit.

A Day of Legal Seesaw

The muted opening is largely attributed to the chaotic legal timeline that unfolded just hours before the scheduled release.

• The 15-Day Stay: On Thursday, February 26, a single-judge bench of the Kerala High Court imposed a 15-day interim stay on the film’s release. The court criticized the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for a “non-application of mind” and raised concerns that the film could disturb communal harmony.
• The Special Sitting: The producers moved an urgent appeal, leading to a rare special sitting by a Division Bench.
• The Green Light: In a dramatic turn of events, the Division Bench lifted the stay late Friday afternoon. However, by the time the clearance arrived, morning and afternoon shows across several major circuits had already been canceled or pulled from booking platforms like BookMyShow.

The Impact on Box Office Numbers

The uncertainty surrounding the release led to a significant “paid preview” effect rather than a full-scale launch.

Exhibitors reported that while night shows saw a slight uptick in occupancy, the confusion regarding whether the film was actually playing deterred many early ticket buyers. In many regions, the film only effectively began its run after 6:00 PM.

Shift in Audience Sentiment?

Beyond the legal hurdles, trade analysts are questioning if the “propaganda-thriller” genre is seeing a decline in saturation. While the first film thrived on massive word-of-mouth and political endorsement, the sequel faces a more polarized and perhaps fatigued audience.

The film’s narrative—which claims to “go beyond” Kerala to explore alleged conversion rackets in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan—has been met with sharp criticism from various sectors. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan labeled the film “poisonous propaganda,” while the filmmakers maintain the story is rooted in rigorous research and documented legal cases.

What’s Next for the Film?

The survival of The Kerala Story 2 now depends entirely on its performance over the Saturday and Sunday window. The makers are hoping that the controversy, which has kept the film in the headlines for weeks, will eventually translate into “curiosity viewing” over the weekend.