Kerala High Court Lifts Stay on ‘Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond,’ Clears Theatrical Release

The Kerala High Court has lifted the interim stay on the release of the film “Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond,” allowing for its theatrical debut. A Division Bench consisting of Justices S.A. Dharmadhikari and P.V. Balakrishnan made this decision on Friday, overturning a previous order from a single-judge bench led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, which had imposed a 15-day stay on the film’s release.

Background of the Legal Challenge

Justice Thomas had initially issued the stay on Thursday afternoon while reviewing two petitions that questioned the film’s content. He remarked on the potential lack of proper evaluation by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) when granting the film its certification, and mandated that the Board reassess objections within two weeks, thereby preventing any release of the film during that time.

Urgent Appeal by Producers

Later that day, an urgent special session of the Division Bench was convened to address an appeal submitted by the filmmakers. This session lasted for over two hours, after which the Bench reserved its decision and announced it by Friday afternoon, ultimately lifting the stay.

Contentions of Petitioners

The petitions filed with the single-judge bench argued that the film misrepresents the state of Kerala and could provoke communal unrest. One petitioner, Sreedev Namboodiri from Kannur, raised concerns regarding the film’s title, teaser, and trailer. He claimed that certain lines and themes portrayed in the teaser might incite violence and unjustly portray the state negatively. He highlighted a specific line that he interpreted as inciting confrontation.

Another petitioner, Freddie V. Francis, sought a total ban on the film, critiquing the inclusion of “Kerala” in the title. He argued that it unjustly connected the state to terrorism and coerced religious conversions, despite the narrative supposedly involving characters from various states. He characterized the film as promoting hate while questioning its basis in actual events.

Justice Thomas’ Observations

In his interim order, Justice Thomas noted

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