Producers Defend The Kerala Story 2 in High Court Call Challenge Premature

The legal battle over the release of The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond intensified on Wednesday as its makers argued before the Kerala High Court that petitions seeking to stall the film are legally unsustainable and filed too early.

The sequel, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, is scheduled for theatrical release on February 27. The film has triggered debate since the teaser surfaced, with some petitioners alleging it portrays Kerala in a negative light.

In an affidavit submitted to the court, Shah maintained that the film has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. He argued that the CBFC is the statutory authority empowered to examine films in their entirety and grant certification for public exhibition.

According to the affidavit, the High Court’s supervisory jurisdiction does not extend to re-evaluating creative content once it has been approved by the expert body. The petitions, the producer claimed, amount to a misuse of the legal process.

Addressing objections over the film’s title, the producers clarified that the phrase “Goes Beyond” is intended to highlight that the narrative is not confined to Kerala alone. They stated that the wording is deliberately included to signal a broader geographical and thematic canvas.

The film reportedly explores issues related to religious conversion and coercion, with events unfolding across multiple states including Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The affidavit also cautioned against allowing threats of unrest to dictate whether a certified film can be screened. Such a precedent, the makers argued, would undermine both the certification mechanism and constitutional protections of artistic expression.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas heard arguments from both sides during the proceedings. The matter remains under consideration as the film’s release date approaches.

Starring Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha, the sequel continues the thematic trajectory of the first installment while expanding its storyline beyond a single state.