‘The Kerala Story 2’ Controversy Explained: Court Notice, Political Reactions & What’s Happening Now
‘The Kerala Story 2’ controversy: Breaking down the trailer outrage, court petitions, CBFC cuts, and sharp reactions from Shashi Tharoor, Anurag Kashyap and others.
The 2023 blockbuster ‘The Kerala Story’ didn't just break box office records; it fractured public opinion. Now, three years later, the sequel ‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ has proven to be just as polarising, experiencing a remarkably turbulent path to its February 27 release. What was supposed to be a standard opening day quickly spiralled into unprecedented chaos when, just hours before the first show could play, the Kerala High Court imposed a 15-day interim stay. The sudden legal intervention threatened to completely derail the premiere, sparking a late-night appeal from the producers and widespread ticketing confusion across cinema chains.
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However, the narrative shifted yet again. In a dramatic, eleventh-hour legal twist, the producers launched a frantic appeal. A Division Bench swiftly overturned the roadblock, giving the green light just in time. Emerging from a storm of intense censorship scrutiny, massive political pushback, scathing celebrity critiques, and a viral trailer scene involving forced beef consumption that took social media by storm, the film has officially hit theatres, bringing its massive national debate straight to the big screen.
Core Controversy Surrounding ‘The Kerala Story 2’
While the first film focused on the recruitment of women from Kerala into ISIS, the sequel expands its scope. Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah stated that the film aims to expose a massive conspiracy of manipulative conversion going on throughout India, shifting the setting to states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The controversy blew up after the film’s trailer dropped on February 17, with its opening line warning that India could become an “Islamic state” ruled by Sharia law within the next 25 years. From there, the trailer moved through multiple states – suggesting the film is “going beyond” Kerala – while showing several Hindu families and young women in distress, linked to allegations of forced conversion and abuse.
One of the most discussed moments in the trailer was a sequence that critics described as depicting a Hindu woman being force-fed beef – a scene that ignited anger in Kerala and became a key talking point in reactions against the trailer.
So, even before audiences could judge the film on its full narrative, the trailer’s messaging and imagery set off accusations that the sequel is pushing a communal agenda – exactly the charge that followed the first film in 2023.
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The Release Was Officially Halted
Just a day before it was set to hit theatres, the Kerala High Court imposed a 15-day interim stay on the film's release. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas severely criticised the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), stating there was a “manifest disregard of the applicable law” and a “non-application of mind” when they granted the U/A certificate. The court noted that the film has the prima facie potential to distort public perception and disturb communal harmony.
The court had directed the CBFC to re-examine the film's certification and pass a reasoned order within two weeks.
The Makers Fight Back
Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and the makers didn't take the stay lying down. They immediately filed an appeal against the single judge's decision. A division bench of the High Court held an urgent, late-night hearing on Thursday to consider the appeal.
The makers argued that after 75 years of independence, India should not be deemed so fragile that a film could undermine religious beliefs, emphasising their right to creative freedom.
The Show Goes On: Court Clears Release Day
In a dramatic twist that kept the industry and audiences on edge, the 15-day interim stay was incredibly short-lived. Following an urgent appeal by producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, a Division Bench of the High Court convened for a special hearing and officially overturned the single judge's roadblock.
The bench noted that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had already exercised its strict mandate, previously ordering 16 specific cuts – which included a 50 per cent reduction of certain violent and intimate sequences alongside the addition of extended disclaimers. With the legal green light finally secured at the absolute eleventh hour, ‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ officially hit over 1,500 screens across India on February 27, turning a protracted courtroom battle into a highly publicised opening day.
The Legal Hurdle
The Kerala High Court had been hearing multiple petitions to quash the film’s censor certificate and suspend its release. Petitioners argued that while the title still bears the name “Kerala,” the film paints the state as a “hub of terror” despite portraying events in other states.
The Kerala High Court issued notices to the makers and the CBFC after a plea argued the film’s title and themes could misrepresent Kerala and potentially incite communal tension, raising questions around the CBFC’s certification process. On February 24, the court noted that the makers seemed “hesitant” to screen the film for the judges ahead of the release, further fuelling suspicion regarding its content.
Celebrity And Political Reactions
The film has drawn sharp rebukes from some of the biggest names in politics and cinema.
Shashi Tharoor (Congress MP): The politician has been vocal, calling the sequel a “hate-mongering” and “propaganda” film. He challenged the factual basis of the narrative, arguing that while isolated cases of conversion might exist, amplifying them into a national conspiracy lacks foundation. He famously compared the film's tone to the inclusive spirit of 1970s cinema (like ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’), which celebrated unity rather than division.
Anurag Kashyap vs the makers: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap called the film “propaganda,” alleging it tries to divide people and spread hate, and mocked the plausibility of the trailer’s beef scene. Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh responded publicly, defending the film and pushing back on the “propaganda” label, framing the criticism as a double standard around creative freedom and truth-claims.
Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala CM): The Chief Minister condemned the film as a “poisonous work” intended to undermine the secular tradition of Kerala and spread false propaganda about the state.
CPI and other political voices: Kerala’s CPI state executive passed a resolution opposing the film, urging cancellation of its certification and alleging it spreads a false narrative about Kerala and attempts to incite communal tension. On the other side, Union Minister Giriraj Singh backed the film, saying filmmakers have the right to show what they believe is the truth, even as legal challenges continue.
Religious groups and protests around the trailer: The All India Muslim Jamaat slammed the film as pushing “fake narratives” and harming communal brotherhood, calling it part of a pattern of controversy-driven filmmaking. Meanwhile, Kerala saw protest responses tied directly to the trailer’s beef imagery.
However, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah defended the film amid backlash, saying it pains him to see the criticism and rejecting claims that the story is fabricated, while the makers have also urged critics to show sympathy for the alleged victims rather than attacking the project sight unseen.
CBFC Certification And Cuts: What Changed?
The CBFC had granted the film a U/A 16+ certificate, but reportedly after 16 cuts, including directions to reduce intimate/assault visuals by about half, along with additional disclaimer/documentation requirements.
This certification had become part of the debate, with critics questioning whether the film’s themes were appropriate for younger audiences, even with the 16+ bracket, while supporters argue certification itself validates the release.
Movie Details: Cast, Crew And Plot
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Director: Kamakhya Narayan Singh (took over from Sudipto Sen)
Producer: Vipul Amrutlal Shah (Sunshine Pictures)
Lead Cast: The film features a fresh lead trio: Ulka Gupta as Surekha, Aditi Bhatia as Divya and Aishwarya Ojha as Neha.
Plot Details: The trailer suggests the story tracks multiple young women across different Indian states, not restricted to Kerala. It shows:
A Rajasthan segment where a Hindu family approaches the police to file a POCSO complaint, alleging their 16-year-old daughter was forced to convert.
A Madhya Pradesh thread where a young woman enters what appears to be marriage and then faces pressure toward conversion.
A Kerala relationship track featuring escalating conflict around religious identity and control, including the now-viral beef scene from the trailer.
A Look Back: Legacy of 'The Kerala Story' (2023)
To understand why ‘The Kerala Story 2’ is exploding this hard, you have to rewind to 2023. Directed by Sudipto Sen and starring Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani, it followed women from Kerala allegedly coerced into conversion and recruitment into ISIS.
The film was initially marketed with the claim that 32,000 women from Kerala had joined ISIS. After a massive legal backlash and lack of evidence, the makers were forced to change the teaser description to the story of “three women”.
Despite being heavily criticised, the film was a massive commercial hit, grossing over Rs 300 crore worldwide on a tiny budget.
‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ is already a hit in terms of visibility, but whether it can match the box office success of its predecessor, or if it will be derailed by the ongoing legal challenges, remains to be seen.
ALSO READ | Why ‘The Kerala Story 2’ Is Back In The Spotlight After Kerala High Court Notice
What Happens Next?
As of February 28 (today), the movie is running in theatres. On its opening day (February 27), it minted Rs 3.50 crore in India, as per Sacnilk.
For audiences, the core question is simple: is ‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ a socially-driven drama presenting alleged realities, or a provocative political narrative packaged as cinema? The answer will depend on the full film – not the trailer alone – but the battle lines have already been drawn.
