Kerala HC places an interim hold on The Kerala Story 2 release amid legal controversy

The Kerala High Court has temporarily halted the release of The Kerala Story 2 and its distribution rights pending full hearings on petitions challenging the film’s title, certification, and potential impact on public order. Questions have been raised about the CBFC’s approval, and the court has reserved its decision ahead of the movie’s scheduled release on February 27.

Ragini Jaiswal

February 26, 2026 / 15:01 IST

Kerala High Court places an interim hold on The Kerala Story 2 release amid legal controversy

Kerala High Court halts The Kerala Story 2 release temporarily
Petitions challenge film's title, content, and certification
Court questions CBFC's U/A certificate for sensitive themes

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The Kerala High Court has placed an interim hold on the theatrical release of the upcoming Hindi film The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond as it continues to hear multiple petitions challenging the movie’s title, content, and certification ahead of its scheduled release on February 27, 2026. The directive from the court asks the film’s makers not to release the movie or its distribution rights until the petitions are fully heard and decided.

As per Live Law, the legal challenge centres on concerns that the sequel’s title and narrative could wrongly associate the state of Kerala with communal disharmony, forced conversions and terrorism, although key parts of the story involve characters from other regions. The petitioners argue that branding the film “Kerala Story 2” without direct links to the state could harm Kerala’s image and disturb public order.

During the proceedings, the court also raised questions about the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) decision to grant the film a U/A certificate rather than an adult certification, given the sensitive themes involved. The bench indicated it might view the film before reaching a final decision, although the makers have not yet arranged a full screening for the court.

The film’s producer, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, has responded via affidavit, describing the opposing petitions as “premature, misconceived and not maintainable.” Lawyers for the makers argued that the CBFC — constituted under the Cinematograph Act — is the appropriate authority to evaluate content and that courts should not substitute their own judgment in the absence of clear legal error.

Meanwhile, the Union Government has backed the CBFC’s certification, asserting that speculative concerns about law and order are not valid grounds to pre-emptively ban a film that has already been cleared.