The Kerala Story 2 release stayed, Kerala HC directs CBFC to re-examine controversial movie

The Kerala Story 2: The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed the release of the controversial movie, while pointing out that it has the potential to disturb communal harmony.

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond motion poster

The Bollywood movie The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond met with a legal roadblock a day before its release on February 27, 2026. The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed the release of the controversial movie, while pointing out that it has the 'potential to disturb communal harmony' and also directed the CBFC to re-examine it.

Is Kerala Story 2 releasing on February 27

The Kerala High Court Judge Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas on February 26 ordered a temporary stay on the release of the movie The Kerala Story 2. The court order comes even as The Kerala Story 2, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and backed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, was set for its Friday release and advance bookings had started.

“The very content in the teaser itself, which is conceded to be part of the movie, has the prima facie potential to distort the public perception and disturb communal harmony,” the judge had said in his order, as per the report on Live Law. The movie, featuring Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha, is the spiritual sequel to The Kerala Story which was released in 2023 and had also caused much controversy.

The Kerala High Court also pulled up the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for prima facie ignoring the film certification guidelines, and also directed the board to re-examine the movie.

"Dissemination of content which has a tendency to create discord, disturb law and order, even undermine social harmony cannot come within the gamut of freedom of speech and expression," the court further stated.

The Kerala Story 2 sparked a row after a teaser was released recently, which had made contentious claims of religious conversions. But the film was cleared by the CBFC, which recently issued a U/A 16+ certificate for the movie. The board had also sought for 16 cuts in the movie, relating to violence and intimacy scenes.

Also read: The Kerala Story 2 director on film being labelled 'propaganda': 'If we’ve shown anything wrong, I’ll quit filmmaking'

The case was earlier taken up by the court on Tuesday when the judge had called out the wrong portrayal of the state in the teaser and had sought for a screening but the makers were not keen on it. But during the Thursday’s hearing, the court sought to temporary stall the release.

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond FAQs

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

A. The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond was scheduled for a theatrical release on Friday, February 27, 2026, but the Kerala High Court has now stayed the release

Q. Who are the lead actors in The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond?

A. The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond features a new primary cast including Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha. The story follows their characters across different Indian states, including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Q. Where to watch The Kerala Story?

A. You can watch The Kerala Story on Zee5 via OTTplay Premium.

Share