The Kerala High Court has stayed the release of the film The Kerala Story 2, which was scheduled to hit theatres on February 27. The order was passed by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas after hearing a petition that challenged the film’s censor clearance.
During the hearing, the court observed that the concerns raised by the petitioner were “probably genuine.” The judge directed that the film should not be released until further orders. The matter will be heard again after the court issues its detailed decision.
The petition was filed by Sreedev Namboodiri, who objected to the film’s theme and title. He argued that the movie portrays Kerala in a negative manner 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 to Challenge the Order
The film is directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under the banner of Sunshine Pictures. 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 Bechu Kurian 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.
Government Defends Censor Board Decision
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.
The court also asked the CBFC to ensure that certification standards are applied consistently. During the proceedings, Justice Bechu Kurian referred to an earlier Malayalam film and questioned whether similar standards had been followed in different cases.
Makers Deny Teaser Removal Claims
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.
