The Kerala Story 2 release: The legal battle surrounding The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond took a dramatic turn on Friday evening after the Kerala High Court lifted the interim stay on its release, clearing the path for the controversial film to hit theatres.

Originally scheduled for release on February 27, the film had been halted by a single-judge bench just a day earlier. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had imposed a 15-day stay and directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to re-examine representations filed against the movie. The court had also questioned the censor board’s decision to grant the film a U/A certificate, remarking that it had not “abide by the guidelines.”

However, the producers moved swiftly. They filed an appeal the same day, prompting a Division Bench comprising Justices SA Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan to convene a special sitting at 7.30 pm. After hearing arguments for over two hours, the bench reserved its verdict and delivered its decision at 4 pm on Friday. The earlier stay was vacated, effectively allowing the film’s release. The producers are yet to confirm a revised release date.

What sparked the controversy?

The legal challenge stemmed from a petition filed by biologist Sreedev Namboodiri, who alleged that the trailer portrayed Kerala in an “extremely negative light” and could have broader social consequences. During earlier hearings, the court observed that the petitioner’s concerns were “probably genuine.”

In his plea, Namboodiri argued that the teaser “shocked his conscience” and risked harming Kerala’s reputation. He claimed the trailer could stigmatise an entire region and misrepresent its social fabric. The petition also objected to the film’s title, contending that branding it as The Kerala Story unfairly associates the alleged incidents exclusively with the state.

The trailer follows three women from Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan who allegedly fall prey to extremist groups that “weaponise romance” to convert unmarried women. The petitioner argued that direct-to-camera statements in the teaser could potentially trigger law-and-order issues and incite communal disharmony.

Acting on the plea, the High Court had earlier issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the CBFC and the film’s producer.

About The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film positions itself as a cautionary tale. It features Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha in lead roles.