Kerala High Court Flags Concerns over The Kerala Story 2 Orders Special Screening and Teaser Removal

The Kerala High Court has raised serious questions regarding the CBFC certification of the upcoming film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, citing potential threats to communal harmony. During a hearing on February 24, 2026, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that Kerala is a state that “lives in total harmony” and cautioned that the film’s portrayal could create a “wrong indication.” The court was particularly critical of the film’s title, noting that if the story spans multiple states, linking it exclusively to Kerala through the title could unfairly stigmatize the region and incite communal tension.

In a significant interim development, the producers agreed to immediately remove the film’s provocative teasers until the court delivers its final verdict. The judge, emphasizing that the “apprehensions of the people of Kerala cannot be ignored,” has scheduled a special screening of the movie for Wednesday, February 25, to personally assess if the content violates Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, which prohibits material that threatens public order. The legal challenge, led by three petitions, seeks to quash the U/A 16+ certification and halt the theatrical release currently slated for February 27. While the court has not yet stayed the release, it has sought the Union government’s official stance on the matter before proceeding further.