The Kerala High Court Division Bench on Friday cleared the way for the release of the film ‘The Kerala Story 2’ by lifting the temporary ban imposed earlier. The Bench, comprising Justices S A Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan, put on hold the interim order passed by Single Bench judge Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, which had stalled the film’s release for 15 days.The matter traces back to February 26, when the High Court had asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to re-watch and reassess the certification granted to ‘The Kerala Story 2’, following allegations that certain portions of the film promote hatred. At that stage, the court had also imposed a 15-day interim stay on the film’s release.While hearing petitions alleging that specific scenes could incite hatred and disturb communal harmony, the court scrutinised the CBFC’s earlier decision allowing the film to be screened. Taking note of the gravity of the accusations, the bench directed the certification body to carry out a detailed review of the disputed segments of the film.The CBFC was further instructed to submit a report clarifying whether the contested remarks amount to an insult directed at any particular community.In his appeal, Vipul Amrutlal Shah maintained that the film neither maligns nor disrespects the state of Kerala or any religious group. Emphasising its intent, his counsel told the court, “The film only portrays a social evil.”Shah further argued that halting the release at this stage would cause irreparable financial damage to the producers. According to him, such a move would “financially finish” them, especially since the film is scheduled to release across nearly 1,500 theatres in India and more than 300 overseas on February 27.‘The Kerala Story 2’ which is a sequel to the National Award-winning The Kerala Story, follows the experiences of three young women who, according to the film’s narrative, are drawn into deceptive marriages and subjected to alleged forced religious conversions.Since the sequel’s trailer was unveiled, the film has triggered intense debate and polarised reactions. Several social media users have criticised it as “propaganda,” while the filmmakers continue to assert that the storyline is rooted in researched, real-life incidents.Earlier reports had suggested that the film’s teaser was taken down following court intervention. These claims, however, were later denied by the makers. With this new order by the court, the film is now set to release in theatres.
