In a significant legal victory for the filmmakers, the Kerala High Court on Friday lifted a temporary stay on the release of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. The decision, delivered by a Division Bench, clears the way for the controversial sequel to hit theaters nationwide after a roller-coaster 24 hours of legal drama.
The Legal Tug-of-War
The case took a sharp turn on Thursday when a single-judge bench, led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, imposed a 15-day stay on the film’s release. The judge had raised concerns that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) might have granted clearance without fully considering the potential for the film to cause “communal disharmony.”
The producers, led by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, immediately moved an urgent appeal. Following a rare late-night hearing that lasted into the evening on Thursday, the Division Bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan intervened.
Key Highlights of the Court’s Decision
The Division Bench stayed the single judge’s order, effectively allowing the film to be screened as originally scheduled. The producers argued that a pre-release stay on a certified film is an extreme form of censorship that infringes on their fundamental rights.
The court noted arguments from the filmmakers that the sequel is not restricted to Kerala but features characters from other states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, portraying what they call a “social evil.”
Understanding the Controversy
The film is a sequel to the 2023 hit The Kerala Story, which dealt with themes of forced religious conversion and radicalization. Like its predecessor, The Kerala Story 2 has faced intense criticism from various political and social groups who label it “propaganda” aimed at tarnishing the state’s image.
“The film only portrays a social evil… halting the release at this stage would cause irreparable financial damage,” argued the producers’ counsel during the hearing.
What’s Next for Viewers?
While the legal stay has been lifted, the court has directed the CBFC to continue its review of certain disputed segments of the film. For now, cinema chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis are expected to update their schedules, though many shows were initially “on hold” on platforms like BookMyShow due to the earlier confusion.
The film is slated to play in approximately 1,500 theaters across India and over 300 international screens. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
