Kochi, Feb 27: The Kerala High Court on Friday cleared the way for the theatrical release of “The Kerala Story 2,” staying an earlier interim order that had put the film’s debut on hold for 15 days. A Division Bench comprising Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice P.V. Balakrishnan issued the directive in response to appeals filed by the film’s producer, Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
The decision followed an urgent hearing conducted late Thursday night after a Single Judge had initially paused the release and requested a review by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). With the stay lifted, the film, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, is set to proceed with its planned distribution across 1,500 domestic and 300 international screens.
Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the producer, maintained that the narrative serves as a creative exploration of existing issues. He asserted that it is the prerogative of the storyteller to address social evils through the medium of cinema. Counsel further noted that judicial interference has historically been limited when films portray various social concerns, suggesting that a consistent legal standard should be applied.
The producer’s legal team affirmed that the movie does not intend to denigrate the state of Kerala or any specific religious group. They declared that the story focuses strictly on portraying a social evil rather than targeting a community. The appellants also stated that a delay would result in significant financial hardship for the production, given the massive scale of the scheduled release.
Written by Amarnath Jha and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the sequel features Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha. While the promotional material has drawn varied reactions for its depiction of interpersonal and social conflicts, the court’s latest intervention ensures the film meets its February 27 premiere date.
