Kerala High Court stays release of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ on Feb 27

The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the release of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ after a petition challenging the film’s censor certificate was filed earlier this week, as per reports. The film was originally scheduled for release on February 27.

During the hearing, the bench reportedly directed that the film must not be released on its originally scheduled date. The court also questioned the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), observing that it had not “abided by the rules” in granting certification.

According to reports, the filmmakers are likely to approach a higher bench of the Kerala High Court to challenge the order. An appeal is expected to be filed on  Thursday, with the producers seeking an expedited release of the detailed order so they can contest it without delay.

Reports citing sources indicate that the production team is racing against time in view of the planned February 27 theatrical release and is seeking urgent relief to avoid further disruption to distribution plans.

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, ‘The Kerala Story 2’ centres on claims that young Hindu women are lured into interfaith marriages, subjected to abuse, stripped of their rights, and coerced into converting to Islam. The film became the subject of controversy following the release of its trailer.

At a hearing on Wednesday, the court observed that the petitioners’ concerns were “probably genuine”. The case was brought by biologist Sreedev Namboodiri, who raised serious objections, alleging that the trailer portrayed Kerala in an extremely negative light and could have wider social repercussions.

Acting on the plea, the high court issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the CBFC, and the film’s producer.