The producers of the highly controversial sequel, “The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond,” have faced a massive legal setback just days prior to its scheduled opening in theaters. On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the Kerala High Court ordered the producers to delay the release of the film, which was originally scheduled for Friday, February 27.
The court's involvement comes after several petitions challenged a decision by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which decided to issue a ‘U/A’ certificate to the film. Critics and petitioners maintain that it distorts Kerala’s social fabric like its 2023 predecessor in a way that can lead to civil disorder and may also fan communal anger.
“Kerala Lives in Harmony”: Court Oral Observations
That the title and promotional contents of the film were named in the film’s title and how the film was promoted raised thorny questions by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas to the sitting judges while hearing the pleas. The teaser and trailer present narratives that may generate "wrong indications" about the state, said the judge, who agreed to review them with a panel. "Kerala lives in total harmony among various religions.
But representing it as though this is what’s going on across the whole state of Kerala is false guidance and can inflame passions" as well, according to the court. The bench noted that though the filmmakers assert that the story is described as a “pan-India” story, they held the charge of keeping “Kerala” in the title of the film because it might have unfairly stigmatized the region’s inhabitants.
Developments in the Legal Process
Seek for Screening: The High Court at first asked the producers to have a special screening for the judges Wednesday to watch it for themselves.
- Producer's opposition: The producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah filed a counter-affidavit against the screening. He said that the court should not meddle with the review of a film which had previously been certified by the CBFC, the statutory authority for film certification.
- Teaser Controversy: Petitioners charged that the teaser purportedly advertising India as an “Islamic State” in 25 years—was being disseminated without a proper censor certificate. It was denied by the makers, who indicated that the teaser material is separate from the final movie.
About the Film
The follow-up is directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and financed by Sunshine Pictures, starring Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha. The film, set in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, India, is said to delve into alleged forced religious conversions and "love jihad" across not just one state but several, beyond the geographical confines of the first instalment.
With producers’ assertions that the film is "grounded in reality" and serves to increase awareness in general, not the specific, the High Court, however, has ruled that all arguments have to be heard before the show can take its way to a public place. International distribution rights are already sold and advance bookings are set to open in several regions, making the stay a huge financial hurdle for the team from a promotional perspective.
