Kerala High Court Seeks Special Screening of The Kerala Story 2 

Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: Just days before its scheduled February 27 release, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond has plunged into a nationwide controversy, triggering legal challenges, political backlash, and sharp reactions from the film industry.

On Tuesday, the Kerala High Court stopped short of granting an immediate stay on the film but directed that a special screening be held for the court before a final decision is taken. The order came amid a petition seeking cancellation of the film’s U/A certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Court Questions Title and Certification Process

During the hearing, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that Kerala is a state where people “live in total harmony” and expressed concern over the portrayal of the state in the film. The court questioned why the sequel continues to use the title The Kerala Story 2 when the producers have acknowledged that several incidents depicted involve women from states such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

The bench also sought clarification from the CBFC on whether it adequately assessed the potential of the film to incite communal tensions before granting certification. According to reports presented in court, the CBFC has already ordered 16 cuts and modifications, including trimming scenes of sexual violence and muting certain dialogues.

The court is scheduled to view the film on February 25 and is expected to decide thereafter whether the release on February 27 can proceed.

The “Beef Scene” Sparks Online Backlash

The controversy intensified following the trailer’s depiction of a Hindu woman allegedly being forcibly fed beef to facilitate religious conversion. Critics across social media platforms, including many Malayalis, have called the scene unrealistic, noting that beef is widely consumed across communities in Kerala.

Left-wing student groups such as the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have organized “beef festivals” across districts as a symbolic counter-protest, serving beef and porotta as an assertion of Kerala’s food culture.

Kerala Minister V. Sivankutty also weighed in, posting a sharp response on social media mocking the film’s narrative around the scene.

Political Divide Deepens

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has described the film as “communal propaganda” aimed at tarnishing the secular fabric of the state. Both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress leaders in Kerala have criticized the film for potentially inciting discord.

Within the BJP, reactions have been mixed. Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated he is “not interested in watching” the film, distancing himself from the controversy, while other party voices have defended the filmmakers’ right to freedom of expression.

Film Fraternity Divided

The debate has spilled into the film industry. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap dismissed the movie as “nonsense propaganda,” specifically ridiculing the trailer’s controversial scene. Actor Prakash Raj shared images of a traditional Kerala meal featuring beef, pork, and fish, countering the narrative suggested in the film.

Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh defended the project, stating it is rooted in documented court cases and extensive research. Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah held a press conference in New Delhi introducing 37 women from various states who claim to be victims of forced religious conversion. He asserted that the film targets “an evil, not a state or its people,” and denied that it is anti-Kerala.

Numbers Debate Resurfaces

As with the original film, the sequel has reignited debate over the “32,000 women” figure cited in promotional materials. Critics argue that the number is exaggerated and lacks verified data, while the producers maintain they have documentation to substantiate their claims.

Release Hangs in Balance

With the High Court set to watch the film on February 25, the fate of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond now rests on judicial scrutiny. The verdict could determine whether the film releases as scheduled on February 27 or faces a stay amid mounting legal and political pressure.

The controversy underscores the increasingly fraught intersection of cinema, politics, and freedom of expression in India, as courts once again become the arena for adjudicating cultural disputes.