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HC stays Kerala Story 2 release: Court says ‘non-application of mind by CBFC while certifying the movie’

The release of Kerala Story 2 has been postponed a day before the scheduled release. The film had recieved a U/A certificate from CBFC.

2 min readThiruvanananthapuramUpdated: Feb 27, 2026 04:19 AM IST

A bench of justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the order on the appeal moved by The Kerala Story 2's producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah late Thursday night.

In an interim order on Thursday, the Kerala High Court stayed the release of the film, Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, directing the Central Board of Film Certification to have a relook at the certification that it was granted.

A Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas acted upon a petition moved by one Sreedev Namboodiri of Kannur, who had sought that the screening certificate issued to the film be quashed. The petitioner argued that the film is about women from various states who were allegedly being lured into relationships and coerced into religious conversion, but the title says ‘Kerala Story 2’, thereby allegedly linking the theme of forced religious conversion to the state of Kerala.

ALSO READ | The Kerala Story 2: Filmmakers present 33 alleged conversion survivors at Delhi event, none from the state

While hearing the petition, the High Court had remarked that the people of Kerala live in harmony.

Observing that there was a lack of application of mind by the CBFC while granting certification to the film, the court directed the body to consider the revision petitions filed before it by the petitioner within two weeks.

The petitioner alleged that the film, slated for release this week, would create a law and order situation.

“The petition pointed out that this creates a misleading regional association and undermines the dignity and reputation of the people of Kerala, infringing upon their rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and further violating the reasonable restrictions to freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution,” the petition said.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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