Feb 24, 2026 7:48pm IST
‘The Kerala Story 2’ Trailer Withdrawn By Producers Amid Court Hearing
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday heard pleas against “The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond”, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. While the court had already asked the makers to arrange a screening of the film, a fresh update reveals that they have now withdrawn the trailer from the internet. The hearing resumed after lunch, during which the makers agreed to pull down the promotional trailer.
The decision comes in the wake of multiple petitions challenging the film’s U/A 16+ certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). After hearing arguments from all sides, the court observed that the trailer portrays the state of Kerala in a negative light. According to a post by Faye D’Souza on Instagram, the court also noted that naming the state while claiming the film is based on true events could potentially trigger communal tension.
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When the matter was taken up again after the lunch break — with pleas seeking withdrawal of the certificate that permits public exhibition of the film — the makers agreed to remove the trailer. The court will hear the case again on February 25, 2026, and is expected to decide whether to view the film ahead of its scheduled release on February 27, 2026.
As reported by Live Law, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed during the hearing that the state largely lives in harmony, whereas “The Kerala Story 2" appears to present a different picture. He remarked:
“Kerala lives in total harmony. But you have portrayed that this is happening all over Kerala. There is a wrong indication and can also incite passion. That is where the censor board comes into play. Have you considered that? Normally, I do not interfere with any movie — artistic freedom. But you are saying that it is inspired by true events and the name Kerala is given, which can create some communal tension. I will watch the movie tomorrow. You can arrange a screening of the movie tomorrow.”
Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, " The Kerala Story 2" stars Aditi Bhatia, Ulka Gupta, and Aishwarya Ojha in the lead roles.
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