Kerala High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and producers The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond On a petition seeking cancellation of the certification of the film and a stay on its release.
Kerala High Court seeks response from CBFC, producers on plea to stay release of The Kerala Story 2
The petition, filed by Kannur resident Srideva Namboodiri, alleges that the upcoming sequel depicts Kerala in an unfair manner and has the potential to incite communal and regional disharmony. The case was heard by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, who directed the CBFC and the film’s producer, Sunshine Pictures, to file their reply. The next hearing of the case is to be held on February 24.
The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond The sequel to the controversial Hindi film story of keralaWhich depicted a group of women from Kerala who were allegedly recruited into the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
In his petition, Namboodiri has challenged the certification given to the sequel, arguing that the CBFC has failed to properly assess the impact of the film on public order, decency and morality under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
The petition has expressed concern over the teaser and trailer of the film. It points to the concluding line in the teaser – “Ab sahenge nahi… ladenge” (We will not tolerate this anymore, but will fight) – claiming that it is a call to action that could incite violence. The petition also alleged that certain dialogues and topics in the campaign material could incite communal tension.
According to the petitioner, while the teaser and trailer depict women from multiple states, the narrative continues to be branded story of keralaThey argue that it unfairly associates terrorism and forced conversions specifically with Kerala. The petition argues that such portrayal undermines the dignity and reputation of the people of the state and may violate constitutional protections under Articles 14 and 21. It has also been argued that certification ignores reasonable restrictions on free speech under Article 19(2).
The petitioner has sought cancellation of the film’s certification, suspension of its release pending consideration of its review petition or directions for modifications in the film. These include reconsidering the title and including adequate disclaimers to avoid regional slander.
