Kerala High Court lifts stay on the release of ‘The Kerala Story 2’

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday cleared the way for the release of “The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond.” It had stayed a single judge’s order that had imposed a 15-day ban on the film’s screening. A bench of Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the interim order late Thursday night on an appeal by the film’s producer, Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The order came hours after the film’s release was stayed. In its order, the bench said the single judge’s conclusion that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had not taken into account the certification guidelines was “based solely on a few clippings and without viewing the film” and, therefore, “cannot be accepted.” The bench said, “Furthermore, the fact that the appellant (Shah) has made additions, deletions, and alterations to the film in accordance with the CBFC’s directives further establishes the Board’s exercise of due diligence in granting the certificate.” It further stated that once a certificate is issued, it is prima facie presumed that the concerned authority has taken into account all guidelines, including public order. The bench said, “…if any public order issue arises due to the release of the film, it is the responsibility of the State to maintain it.” The court also stated that this presumption includes that the film has been fully evaluated from the perspective of its overall impact, taking into account the principles enshrined in the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the accompanying guidelines. “In such circumstances, the conclusion reached by the single judge, based on only a few clippings and without viewing the film, that the CBFC did not adhere to the certification guidelines while granting certification, cannot be justified. “In view of the above, we are of the view that the impugned order dated February 26, 2026, restraining the release of the film, must be stayed, and we do so,” the bench said. “The order is accordingly passed.” Shah had claimed in his appeal that the film does not harm or insult the state of Kerala or any religious community. His lawyers told the court, “The film merely depicts a social evil.” They also argued that if the film’s release were halted, it would “financially ruin” the producers, as the film was scheduled to be released on February 27 in 1,500 theaters in India and over 300 theaters abroad. A single judge had stayed the film’s release on the grounds that the CBFC, the censor board, had prima facie clearly failed to comply with the legal requirements. The judge also stated that “the film prima facie has the potential to cause communal disharmony or insult any community,” and therefore, its release without prior scrutiny by higher authorities would be legally invalid. The court further stated that the content of the film’s teaser “has the potential to cause public outrage and disturb communal harmony.”