Mumbai: The Kerala High Court has ordered a 15-day interim stay on the release of the much-discussed film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, bringing its theatrical plans to a sudden halt just a day before its scheduled opening on February 27. The decision comes amid rising concerns over the film’s certification and its possible impact on social harmony in the state.
The sequel, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, features a new cast, with Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha in its star form. The film has come under the legal review as it was approved by the Central Board of Film Certification and several petitions have been raised on how the permission was given.
Court Raises Concerns Over Certification and Public Impact
While hearing the matter, the bench led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that, prima facie, there appeared to be a non-application of mind by the censor board while granting certification. The court noted that the CBFC guidelines are meant to ensure films do not disturb social harmony, and in this case, those safeguards may not have been properly followed.
The petitions which were made by Sreedev Namboothiri of Kannur and others claim that the movie gives an inaccurate and communal picture of Kerala. They also assert that the title and the promotional materials are unfairly stigmatising the state, something that is likely to provoke the general peace. These concerns were not overlooked by the court according to PTI, given that the filmmakers have asserted that the movie is a true story.
In the course of the hearings, the court commented that Kerala has a long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence of various religious groups, and portraying the state as the place of mass communal conflict may send an erroneous signal and provoke emotions. This is where the role of the censor board comes in because this is where the bench highlighted the importance of the censor board.
What Lies Ahead for The Kerala Story 2
As the 15-day stay is now effective, the release of The Kerala Story 2 has been postponed pending the court to first conclude its initial investigation of the case. The court has also ordered that no further measures concerning the release or rights of the film should be done within this time frame.
The next hearing will determine whether the stay will continue or be lifted, making the coming weeks critical for the future of the film’s theatrical release.
