The court also stated that the film should not be released until the arguments concluded, adding that the teaser and trailer of the film have the 'full potential to cause communal disharmony'
NEW DELHI — The makers of The Kerala Story 2 suffered a significant setback on Thursday as the Kerala High Court ordered a two-week interim stay on the release of the Hindi film, which was scheduled for release on Friday.
The Kerala Story 2, which sparked controversy ever since its promotional video was out, is directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah of Sunshine Pictures. The makers have maintained that the film is based on “true incidents”.
The high court order was passed by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas after hearing a petition that challenged the film’s censor clearance.
During the hearing, the court also lambasted the Censor Board for clearing The Kerala Story 2 without “applying its mind”, adding that the board must consider the petitioner’s complaint.
The court also stated that the film should not be released until the arguments concluded, adding that the teaser and trailer of the film have the “full potential to cause communal disharmony.”
During the hearing, the court observed that the concerns raised by the petitioner were “probably genuine.”
The matter will be heard again after the court issues its detailed decision.
The petition was filed by a Kannur native, Sreedev Namboodiri, who objected to the film’s theme and title. He argued that the movie negatively portrays Kerala and links the state with terrorism and forced religious conversions. According to him, such content could affect communal harmony and damage the state’s reputation.
Filmmakers Plan Challenge
The producers have said they will approach a higher bench of the high court against the single judge’s order.
During the hearing, senior counsel representing the filmmakers argued that the petition was not legally maintainable. He said the film had already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification and that the court should not replace the expert body’s judgment with its own view.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, the producer stated that the supervisory jurisdiction of the high court does not extend to reassessing a film’s content once it has been certified. The filmmakers also pointed out that the movie was set for release in more than 1,800 theatres in India and abroad. They argued that even a one-day delay would lead to serious financial losses.
However, Justice Thomas cautioned the producers not to “corner the court” by pressing for an urgent decision only because of the release date. The judge said the court would hear all sides fully before passing an order.
Centre Defends Censor Board
The Union Government also defended the certification granted to the film. It told the court that the CBFC is a statutory body under the Cinematograph Act and had examined the entire film before granting clearance. The government argued that courts should not interfere with a certified film unless there is clear illegality.
Amid the controversy, Sunshine Pictures issued a clarification rejecting reports that the film’s teaser had been removed following court intervention. The production house described such claims as “completely false, baseless and misleading.” It stated that the matter is currently before the court and no order has been passed directing the removal of promotional material.
