Why Did An Indian Court Block The ‘Kerala Story 2’ Release?
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Poster for ‘The Kerala Story 2’ sunshine pictures India’s Kerala High Court has blocked the release of The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond just one day before its scheduled February 27 premiere, ruling that the country’s film certification board failed to properly assess whether the movie threatens public order and communal harmony. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued a 15-day stay on the film’s release on February 26, ordering India’s Central Government to review a revision petition challenging the certification within two weeks. The film cannot be released for public viewing during this period. The decision comes after two residents of Kerala, a southern Indian coastal state known for its religious diversity and high literacy rates, filed separate petitions arguing that the sequel to 2023’s controversial “The Kerala Story” denigrates their home state while claiming without evidence that it serves as a hub for Islamic extremism. The state is currently governed by a communist coalition opposed to India’s ruling party, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kerala’s BJP president has defended the filmmakers’ right to make the movie while saying he personally had no interest in watching it. What The Court Found Problematic Unlike the United States, where the film industry self-regulates through the MPAA rating system and First Amendment protections, India maintains government-run prior censorship of films before release. The court identified specific content from the film’s trailer that violates certification standards. The opening card states that the film is “Inspired by true events.” One dialogue features a character stating “Our mission is to convert Hindu girls.” A title card proclaims “And Sharia law will be enforced across all of India.” The Central Government’s counsel conceded in court that these scenes are part of the actual film and were not subjected to…
Filed under: News - @ February 27, 2026 4:29 am