What is the story about?
Even after the Kerala High Court stayed the release of The Kerala Story 2 – Extended for 15 days, ticket sales for the movie remained available on Friday
morning, February 27, 2026. This was brought to the attention of a single bench of the High Court, even as the issue was already under consideration by a division bench. Attorneys representing the petitioners informed the court that despite the stay order issued the previous day, viewers were still able to purchase tickets online. They expressed concerns that this could lead to the film being shown in theaters during the day, which raised significant legal issues.
Petitioners Express Worries Over Ticket Sales
The matter was presented before Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas. The statement was made on behalf of petitioners Sreedev Namboodiri and Freddy Francis. It was based on their requests that the court had, on February 26, halted the film's release for 15 days.
While issuing the stay, the judge remarked that there seemed to be a prima facie lack of consideration by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in approving the film. The court also indicated that there might be a risk of communal discord or the disparagement of a community. The judge noted that the film's teaser had the potential to misrepresent public opinion and disrupt communal peace if released without additional examination.
Despite this ruling, the petitioners’ attorneys alerted the court that ticket sales were still ongoing on Friday morning. They stated they would check whether the film was indeed shown in theaters and, if it was, would contemplate filing a contempt petition.
Producer's Request to Division Bench
In response to the single bench ruling, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah filed an appeal with a division bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday night. The case was reviewed by Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P.V. Balakrishnan.
After listening to comprehensive arguments from all parties, the division bench reserved its decision. However, it did not issue any interim order suspending the single judge’s ruling. This meant that the 15-day hold on the film’s release remained in effect.
The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond is a follow-up to the contentious 2023 film The Kerala Story featuring Adah Sharma, which ignited a nationwide discussion regarding its depiction of radicalization. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film achieved significant success at the box office. The producers are hopeful for a similar reaction for the sequel as well. The Kerala Story 2 stars Ulka Gupta, Aishwarya Ojha, and Aditi Bhatia in prominent roles.
