The Kerala Story 2 makers move Supreme Court after HC's stay on the release

Following an interim stay by the Kerala High Court on the release of The Kerala Story 2 just before its scheduled premiere, the film’s producers are expected to approach the Supreme Court of India to challenge the order. Prosecutors argue that the film’s certification was legally obtained and that the stay could set a precedent restricting artistic expression.

Ragini Jaiswal

February 26, 2026 / 18:40 IST

The Kerala Story 2 makers reportedly moved the Supreme Court after the High Court's stay on the release

Kerala High Court halts The Kerala Story 2 release for 15 days
Producers plan to challenge the stay in the Supreme Court
CBFC told to review certification amid concerns over public order

Did our AI summary help?

The producers of the controversial Hindi film The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond have signalled their intent to take the legal fight over the movie’s release all the way to the Supreme Court of India, following an interim stay from the Kerala High Court that has halted the film’s planned February 27 premiere.

On February 26, 2026, a bench of the Kerala High Court led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued a 15-day interim stay on the film’s release, saying the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) appeared to have granted certification without properly applying its mind to potential concerns about public order and social harmony. The order was passed on multiple petitions filed against the movie, which critics argue could misrepresent the state of Kerala and stoke discord if shown in cinemas.

The High Court’s stay — coming just a day before the film’s scheduled nationwide launch — also directed the CBFC to re-examine its certification and consider the representations submitted by petitioners within a fixed timeframe. Until such review is completed, the movie remains barred from theatrical or digital release.

According to reports, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and his legal team are preparing to petition the Supreme Court of India seeking to overturn the Kerala High Court’s stay order. Advocates for the film’s makers argue that The Kerala Story 2 was granted certification following due statutory process under the Cinematograph Act and that there is no basis for judicial interference in a film that has already been cleared by the expert authority tasked with such decisions. They contend that halting the release will cause financial loss and set a concerning precedent for future film certifications.

The controversy echoes legal challenges faced by the original The Kerala Story, which also drew significant debate over its depiction of socio-religious issues and garnered litigation in multiple states before its release.