Kochi’s legal corridors buzzed on Thursday as the Kerala High Court fired off notices to the producers of ‘The Kerala Story 2’. The move stems from a petition slamming the CBFC’s green light to the controversial sequel.
At the heart of the dispute are the promotional materials, which portray a nationwide scam of trapping women in love affairs to force religious conversions. The film’s title, however, spotlights Kerala, allegedly weaving terrorism, love jihad, and population shift plots into the state’s fabric alone.
The trailer’s closing war cry – ‘We won’t endure anymore, we’ll fight’ – has been flagged as a call to vengeance, risking communal flare-ups. The petitioner accuses the CBFC of overlooking Cinematograph Act safeguards against content harmful to public tranquility or decency.
Drawing parallels to the predecessor film’s Supreme Court-mandated disclaimer on its fictional elements, the plea demands equal rigor for this sequel. It argues that rushed certification ignores potential damage to communal harmony and regional pride.
Freedom of speech is not absolute, the petition reminds, citing constitutional limits and new criminal code provisions against promoting group hatred. Relief sought includes scrapping the certification, title tweaks, mandatory disclaimers, and an interim release ban.
With the next court date set for Tuesday, the film hangs in balance. This saga highlights cinema’s power to stir debates on narrative responsibility in a diverse nation.