‘The Kerala Story 2’ faces legal heat; HC issues notice to producers

The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to the producers of the Hindi film ‘The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond’ following a writ petition contesting the film’s certification. The petition argues that the film’s teaser and trailer negatively portray Kerala and could incite communal discord, particularly through its title and a concluding slogan. The petitioner contends that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) failed to adequately safeguard against content that could threaten public order or incite offenses, referencing the controversy surrounding the first installment, ‘The Kerala Story,’ which required a disclaimer.

The plea asserts that the film’s title unfairly links alleged incidents of terrorism and forced conversion solely to Kerala, and that the CBFC granted certification without suggesting edits or reconsidering the title. It also invokes sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, alleging the film could promote disharmony. The petitioner previously sought reconsideration of the certification from the Central Government but argued that the imminent release necessitates interim relief from the Court.

The petitioner requests the High Court to quash the certification and order a fresh consideration, or alternatively, suspend the film’s release or mandate modifications, including a title reconsideration and the addition of disclaimers. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on February 24th.

(Source：Malayala Manorama)