In a significant legal development, the Kerala High Court has issued notice to the producers of the Hindi film “Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond,” following a writ petition challenging the certification granted to the movie by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The court’s action comes in response to objections raised against the teaser and trailer of the film, which depict women being lured into relationships and coerced into religious conversion across multiple states.
The petition argues that the film’s title associates incidents of terrorism, forced conversion, and demographic conspiracy exclusively with Kerala, despite the storyline spanning several states. The petitioner has sought quashing of the certification, reconsideration of the title and disclaimers, and suspension of the film’s release pending further review.
The plea also raises concerns about a concluding slogan in the teaser, “Ab sahenge nahin… ladenge (We will not tolerate it anymore… we will fight),” arguing that it could incite communal tension. The petition alleges that the CBFC failed to apply statutory safeguards under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which bars certification of films against public order, decency, or morality, or those likely to incite the commission of an offence.
The petitioner refers to previous litigation surrounding the first episode of “The Kerala Story” in 2023 before the Supreme Court, where producers agreed to add a disclaimer clarifying that certain figures cited in the film lacked authentic data and that the narrative was fictionalised. However, the petition argues that the sequel was certified without adequate examination of its potential impact on communal harmony and regional dignity.
The matter has been posted for further consideration on February 24. The outcome could have significant implications for the release and content of “Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond.”
