The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to the producers of the Hindi movie “Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond” following a writ petition challenging the certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The petition raises concerns about the teaser and trailer of the film, alleging that the promotional material portrays women from various states being enticed into relationships and forced into religious conversions. Despite the storyline supposedly spanning multiple states, the film’s title links incidents of terrorism, forced conversion, and demographic conspiracy specifically to Kerala.
The petition also highlights a Hindi slogan in the teaser, “Ab sahenge nahin… ladenge (We will not tolerate it anymore… we will fight),” interpreting it as potentially instigating retaliatory actions and stirring communal tensions. It is claimed that the CBFC did not properly apply the statutory safeguards under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which prohibits certification of films that go against public order, decency, morality, or incite offenses.
Referring to previous legal disputes related to the first installment of “The Kerala Story” in 2023, where disclaimers were added clarifying certain fictionalized elements, the petitioner argues that the sequel was certified without thorough evaluation of its impact on communal harmony and regional integrity. While recognizing the protection of freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a), the plea emphasizes that such rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the public interest.
Citing Sections 196 and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the petition suggests that the film’s content could potentially fuel discord between religious or regional communities. The petitioner has requested the annulment of the certification, reconsideration of the title and disclaimers, and a halt to the film’s release until further examination. The case is scheduled for further review on Tuesday.
