The Kerala Story 2 trailer review: Loud, alarmist dive that swaps storytelling for divisive sensationalism

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond shifts to a national "conspiracy" involving three new leads. While it claims to raise awareness, it relies on incendiary claims and dramatic, fictionalised tropes.

A still from The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond

With the release of the trailer for The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond moviegoers can now confidently anticipate the continuation of the controversial and alarmist plot that captivated audiences in the first film, The Kerala Story. The trailer for the film, which is backed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, changed its focus from one state to a national "conspiracy" and used dramatic music to depict a bleak future for India.

What is the central theme and tone of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond?

Taking over for Sudipto Sen as director, national award winner Kamakhya Narayan Singh aims to expand the "Love Jihad" theme's reach in this sequel. Goes Beyond takes aim at all three states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala at once, whereas the first film focused on just Kerala. An ominous and, to be honest, exaggerated statement begins the trailer: that Sharia law will convert India into an Islamic state within the next quarter of a century. This sets and maintains the mood of existential dread throughout the entire three-minute trailer.

Surekha Nair (Ulka Gupta), a Kerala-based IAS candidate; Divya Paliwal (Aditi Bhatia), a social media influencer from Rajasthan; and Neha Sant (Aishwarya Ojha), a javelin athlete from Madhya Pradesh, are the three main characters in the story. The trailer portrays their downfall by depicting them as driven young women who become victims of "grooming" and "traps." A troubled Rajasthani family tries to lodge a POCSO complaint in one sequence, claiming their daughter was forced into conversion. The woman's refusal to convert in another scene sets the stage for a heated argument about a live-in relationship.

ALSO READ: The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond motion poster - Ulka Gupta, Aishwarya Ojha, Aditi Bhatia star in haunting return to stories that 'don't end'

Does The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond prioritise sensationalism over factual accuracy?

From a critical standpoint, it seems like the film values sensationalism more than factual subtlety. A scenario with a "price tag" of ₹12 lakh for converting Brahmin women serves as one example of the many incendiary assertions that pepper the discussion. Using well-known TV personalities like Aditi Bhatia and Ulka Gupta to promote a story that many have accused of being propaganda is a blatant attempt at reaching a wide audience. From the original film's emphasis on defenceless victims to this new, more aggressive, vigilante-style rallying cry, the new motto reads, "Ab Sahenge Nahi... Ladenge" (We will not tolerate; we will fight).

The makers say it "spreads awareness," but the trailer uses too many generalisations and prejudices to support their claims. It presents a simplistic "hidden truth" rather than the multi-faceted social and political realities of the governments it portrays. Continued marketing of the sequel as "inspired by true events" persists, although the original film's director did confess that certain elements were "fictionalised" in the initial feature.

What is the expected impact and legacy of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond?

The Kerala Story 2 is expected to be released on February 27, 2026 and it is expected to be another huge commercial success, driven by the same divisive energy that made the first chapter earn more than ₹300 crore. But as a film, it is more concerned with highlighting societal divisions than with conveying a tale. Given the current climate's sensitivity to communal concerns, this "beyond Kerala" extension seems more of a premeditated effort to maintain a lucrative, if poisonous, flame burning than a documentary-style study.

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond FAQs -

Q: When is The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond releasing?

A: The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond is scheduled to release in cinemas on February 27, 2026. The trailer was released in mid-February, building anticipation for its late-month debut.

Q: Who is the director of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond?

A: Unlike The Kerala Story which was directed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond is directed by National Award winner Kamakhya Narayan Singh. It is produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under his banner, Sunshine Pictures.

Q: Who is in the cast of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond?

A: The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond features a fresh lead cast, moving away from the original actors. It stars popular television faces Ulka Gupta (as Surekha), Aditi Bhatia (as Divya), and Aishwarya Ojha (as Neha).

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