- Kerala High Court halts release of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond for 15 days
- Court flags prima facie non-application of mind by CBFC
- Film was scheduled to release on February 27
The release of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond has been postponed, after the Kerala High Court on Thursday granted an interim stay of 15 days, just a day before its scheduled theatrical release on February 27. The court observed that, at first glance, there appeared to be a lack of proper application of mind by the censor board while certifying the film.
Court Flags Lapses in Censor Certification
The interim order was passed after hearing petitions challenging the certification issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The petitioners questioned the validity of the clearance granted to the movie, arguing that the certification process failed to adequately consider the film’s potential social impact.
The bench, led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, noted that the CBFC’s decision appeared questionable at the preliminary stage, warranting judicial intervention.
Concerns Over Social Harmony in Kerala
During earlier proceedings, the court orally observed that the concerns raised by sections of society in Kerala could not be brushed aside, particularly because the filmmakers claimed the movie was based on true events and prominently used ‘Kerala’ in the title.
“Kerala lives in total harmony among various religions. But portraying it in such a manner as though this is what is happening all over Kerala gives a wrong indication and may also incite passions, which is where the censor board comes into play,” the court remarked.
Petitions and Legal Background
The pleas were filed by Sreedev Namboothiri of Kannur and others, seeking suspension of the film’s release and judicial scrutiny of the censor certificate. The court agreed to examine whether the CBFC had sufficiently assessed the film’s content, especially in light of its potential to disturb public order or communal harmony.
ANI confirmed that the film’s release has been halted for 15 days, pending further consideration by the court.
What Happens Next
With the interim stay now in force, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond cannot be screened in theatres until the matter is heard again. The High Court is expected to further evaluate the certification process and decide whether the film can be released with modifications, additional disclaimers, or face a longer suspension.
For now, the postponement underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing creative expression, public sentiment, and regulatory accountability in Indian cinema.
Kerala Story 2 Cast
The Kerala Story 2 stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha in the lead roles, with Arjan Singh Aujla, Sumit Gahlawat, and Yuktam Khosla as the male leads.
Lead Female Cast
- Ulka Gupta as Surekha Nair, a character from Kerala whose story forms one of the three parallel narratives in the film. Ulka is known for her role as young Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi Ki Rani and has appeared in films like Simmba and Rudhramadevi.
- Aditi Bhatia as Divya Paliwal, a dancer from Rajasthan aspiring to be a social media influencer. This marks her Bollywood debut, after her television fame in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein.
- Aishwarya Ojha as Neha, an athlete from Chhattisgarh whose life is disrupted by a honey-trapping scheme leading to forced religious conversion. This is her first major lead role in a high-profile Bollywood film.
Lead Male Cast
- Arjan Singh Aujla as Faizan, paired with Aishwarya Ojha’s character Neha.
- Sumit Gahlawat as Salim, opposite Ulka Gupta’s Surekha.
- Yuktam Khosla as Rasheed, paired with Aditi Bhatia’s Divya.
Supporting Cast
- Alka Amin, Hafsa Begum, Rajiv Kumar, Satyendra Sinha, Lakshmi Gautami Nair, Shweta Munshi, Purva Parag, Abhishek Shankar, and Deepak Sharma appear in supporting roles, portraying family members and other key characters that influence the protagonits’ journeys.
FAQs: The Kerala Story 2 Postponed After High Court Stay
The film has been postponed after the Kerala High Court granted an interim stay for 15 days, citing prima facie concerns over the censor certification process.
The Kerala High Court ordered the interim stay.
The movie was scheduled to release on February 27.
The court observed that there appeared to be non-application of mind by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) while granting certification to the film.
Petitions were filed by Sreedev Namboothiri of Kannur and others, questioning the validity of the CBFC certificate.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is responsible for certifying films for public exhibition, and the court is reviewing whether it adequately assessed the film’s potential social impact.
The court noted that Kerala is known for religious harmony and expressed concern that portraying events as widespread across the state could give a misleading impression and potentially incite passions.
The interim stay is for 15 days, during which the film cannot be released.
The film can only be released if the court lifts the stay or issues further directions, which may include modifications, re-certification, or additional safeguards.
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