Kerala High Court Halts Release of The Kerala Story 2 Hours Before Scheduled Premiere

Kerala | 26 Feb 2026 The release of The Kerala Story 2 has been put on hold after the Kerala High Court granted an interim stay just hours before the film was set to arrive in theatres. The movie was scheduled to release on Friday, February 27, but the order was passed on Thursday afternoon following a petition opposing its release. The filmmakers have not issued any official response so far. The court was hearing a plea that challenged the film on grounds that it could create communal division and portray Kerala in a negative manner. During the hearing, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas made pointed remarks about the makers’ stance, saying, "You are not keen that the Court should watch the movie. You want the issue to be decided on whether this petition is a private litigation or a public litigation." The observation came a day before the stay was granted, adding weight to the concerns raised by the petitioners. The film, which deals with themes of religious conversion and alleged coercion, is set across Kerala, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The makers have claimed that the story is inspired by real incidents, but the project has remained controversial since its trailer release earlier this month. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticised the film, calling it a danger to social harmony. In his statement, he said, “We must collectively reject attempts to portray Kerala, a land of religious harmony that stands at the forefront of sustainable development and is a model in maintaining law and order, as a center of terrorism. It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that Kerala's secular foundation is not undermined by false propaganda and to reject it by upholding the values of secularism and brotherhood.” Responding to the criticism earlier, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah had defended the film’s intent, stating, “We're not after Kerala. Kerala is God's Country... We want this evil in that state to be eradicated as soon as possible.” He also maintained that the film’s goal was awareness, saying, “Our objective has always been awareness, to inform, and to empower young minds to stay alert and make informed choices.” The sequel had received a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification last week and stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha. With the interim stay now in place, the film’s release remains uncertain until further orders from the court. Kerala High Court Halts Release of The Kerala Story 2 Hours Before Scheduled Premiere The release of The Kerala Story 2 has been stopped at the last moment after the Kerala High Court passed an interim stay order on Thursday afternoon. The film was scheduled to hit cinemas on Friday, February 27, but the court’s decision came just hours before its planned release. The order followed a petition alleging that the film could disturb social harmony and show the state in a negative way. While hearing the case, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas raised concerns about the approach of the film’s makers. The judge remarked, "You are not keen that the Court should watch the movie. You want the issue to be decided on whether this petition is a private litigation or a public litigation." This observation highlighted the court’s doubts over the handling of the issue by the filmmakers. The film has been under criticism since its trailer release, as it deals with sensitive topics like religious conversion and alleged coercion across Kerala, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan openly opposed the film, calling it a threat to social unity. In his statement, he said, “We must collectively reject attempts to portray Kerala, a land of religious harmony that stands at the forefront of sustainable development and is a model in maintaining law and order, as a center of terrorism. It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that Kerala's secular foundation is not undermined by false propaganda and to reject it by upholding the values of secularism and brotherhood.” Defending the film earlier, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah said the intention was not to target the state, stating, “We're not after Kerala. Kerala is God's Country... We want this evil in that state to be eradicated as soon as possible.” He also stressed the purpose of the film, adding, “Our objective has always been awareness, to inform, and to empower young minds to stay alert and make informed choices.” The film had received a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, but its release will now depend on further court orders.