The Kerala Story 2 faces fresh legal storm as High Court petition seeks release stay

The Kerala High Court has issued notices over a petition seeking to stall the release of The Kerala Story 2 and cancel its censor certificate. The film, backed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Kamakhya Narain Singh, is slated to release on February 27.

The plea was filed by Sridev Namboothiri, a resident of Chittariparamba in Kannur district. The court has sought responses from the Central Board of Film Certification and the producers. The matter is expected to be heard on February 24, just days before the scheduled release.

The controversy comes close on the heels of the trailer launch, which drew criticism from sections in Kerala, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The petitioner has alleged that the sequel portrays the state in an unfair manner and could lead to communal and regional disharmony.

According to Bar and Bench, the petition contends that the certification granted by the CBFC did not adequately assess the possible impact of the film on public order, decency and morality. It questions whether the board applied the required legal standards while granting clearance.

The petition states: “The petitioner apprehends that the upcoming movie will also create a law and order situation, as the teaser, in the end, gives a message ‘ab sahenge nahin… ladenge’ which translates to ‘we will not tolerate it anymore, but will fight’. This is precisely calling for action, which might invoke violence among the public. The trailer of the movie was released on 17.02.2026, which again tries to provoke sentiments of the general public in several spheres.”

The plea also objects to certain dialogues and themes used in the promotional material. It argues that although the teaser references women from different states, the branding of the narrative directly associates sensitive issues with Kerala. The petitioner has sought cancellation of the certification and a stay on the film’s release until revisions are carried out, including changes to the title and addition of disclaimers.

Earlier, responding to criticism, Vipul Shah told PTI, “The movie is based on real-life stories. I want audiences to judge whether what we are showing is the truth or propaganda.”

The first instalment had also faced legal and political opposition during its release.