The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed the release of the much-discussed film ‘The Kerala Story’ sequel ‘The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond’. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas’s bench issued this order during the hearing of petitions filed against the censor certificate granted to the film.
During the hearing, the court indicated that prima facie the matter appears serious, raising questions about whether the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) exercised sufficient caution while granting certification to the film. Expressing dissatisfaction with the board’s functioning, the court has directed it to re-examine the film. For now, the interim stay on the film’s release will continue until the next hearing.
Strong objections have been raised in the petitions filed in the Kerala High Court regarding the film’s name and its subject matter. Petitioners Sreedev Namboothiri and Freddy V Francis state that the film’s title and the story presented could portray Kerala’s image negatively at an international level. They argue that this could impact the state’s identity.
It was also apprehended that the film’s content could affect social and communal harmony. During the hearing, Justice Thomas deemed these apprehensions serious, stating that it would not be appropriate to allow the film’s release until arguments from all sides are heard in detail. On this basis, the court decided to maintain the stay on its release for now.
Two Weeks for Censor Board
Accepting the petitions for hearing, the High Court has directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to re-examine the film’s content and the objections raised by the petitioners. The court has clearly told the board to provide its decision in this matter within two weeks. Until then, the stay on the film’s release will continue.
However, a separate writ petition filed by advocate Atul Roy was dismissed by the court, deeming it non-maintainable.
Producers’ Arguments Not Accepted
During the hearing, the film’s producers opposed the petitions, stating that the issues raised are public in nature and do not cause direct legal harm to any individual. They also questioned how the petitioners have the right to challenge this matter.
Despite this, the court did not accept these arguments. The court allowed additional documents to be taken on record and dismissed the producers’ objections. This order is considered a major setback for the team of ‘The Kerala Story 2’. Now, all eyes are on the CBFC’s re-examination and the upcoming hearing, where the future course of this matter will be decided.
