‘The Kerala Story 2’ Tickets Still Available Despite High Court Stay Order
The Kerala High Court has reserved judgment on an appeal by the producers of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, contesting a single judge’s interim stay on the film’s release, as a fresh contempt petition questions why online ticket bookings for the movie persist despite the judicial restraint.
The Hindi sequel, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures, was originally scheduled for theatrical release on February 27. A division bench heard arguments on Thursday regarding the challenge to the single judge’s order, which imposed a 15-day (or two-week) interim stay the previous day, halting the film’s screenings pending detailed examination of petitions opposing its certification.
Petitioners, including Sreedev Namboodiri, sought revocation of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)’s U/A certificate, contending that the film portrays Kerala and its people negatively and risks inciting communal discord through stereotypes. The court had previously criticized the CBFC for granting certification without proper application of mind, highlighting that the teaser’s and trailer’s content could potentially disturb social harmony.
During the division bench proceedings, the judges noted that the challenges to the certification resembled public interest litigation and raised questions about their maintainability at the outset. The makers have defended the 131-minute film as inspired by real incidents, depicting alleged love traps leading to forced religious conversions and demographic alterations. The CBFC required 16 modifications before issuing the U/A 16+ rating.
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Despite the stay, ticket bookings continued to appear on platforms on Friday, prompting petitioners to alert the single bench and warn of contempt if screenings went ahead. A new contempt petition has been filed, specifically asking how bookings remain open in violation of the court’s directive, leaving audiences and exhibitors uncertain.
The film stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha in lead roles, expanding on the original’s themes of an alleged organized conversion agenda through romance.
The controversy intensified post-trailer launch, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemning it as an attempt to foster communal discord. Director Singh told that the film draws from documented cases, including FIRs and victim testimonies, and stressed the need to confront such issues to preserve national harmony rather than ignore them. Producer Shah clarified that the narrative does not target Kerala or any community but exposes an “evil” practice requiring eradication, reaffirming the team’s resolve to highlight victims’ stories despite criticism.
With the division bench reserving its orders, the film’s release status remains in limbo pending the court’s forthcoming decision.