Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply criticised the upcoming Hindi film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, describing it as a threat to the secular fabric of the state and alleging that it spreads “false propaganda” that could undermine communal harmony.
Vijayan’s remarks came after the controversial trailer for the sequel was released, reigniting political debate around the franchise just ahead of its scheduled theatrical release on 27 February.
In a statement issued by his office, the Chief Minister said the first installment of The Kerala Story was created with an “agenda to spread hatred against Kerala and undermine its secular traditions,” and that the upcoming sequel appears to continue that effort by portraying consensual marriages and inter-community relationships as examples of forced religious conversion and communal conflict.
He questioned why such films — which he labelled “poisonous works produced to spread division and hatred in society” — are allowed screening approval, while other productions face restrictions.
Vijayan stressed that Kerala is historically known for religious harmony, social co-existence and a long tradition of peaceful relations among diverse communities, and that attempts to depict the state as a hub of extremism should be collectively rejected.
“They are spreading false propaganda by portraying even marriages conducted with mutual consent as examples of communalism and forced religious conversion,” the CM said.
He added that ‘such forces' are hostile towards Kerala, a state with no communal riots and a tradition of mutual respect among communities.
“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,” Vijayan added.
The sequel, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, follows the controversial premise of the original story, which claimed thousands of women were allegedly radicalised and recruited by extremist groups after converting from Hinduism.
The sequel expands it with additional accounts that the makers say are based on legal cases and real-life incidents.
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