Kerala High Court Delays Release of The Kerala Story 2 Amid Ticket Sales Controversy

The Kerala High Court has temporarily halted the release of The Kerala Story 2 for 15 days due to concerns over ticket sales continuing despite the stay. Petitioners raised alarms about the potential screening of the film, which could lead to legal complications. The producer has appealed the decision, but the stay remains in effect. The sequel follows the controversial 2023 film that sparked national debate over its themes. With a strong cast, expectations are high for its performance at the box office.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 27, 2026, 16:16 IST

High Court's Stay on The Kerala Story 2

Despite the Kerala High Court issuing a 15-day stay on the release of The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond, ticket sales for the film remained active as of Friday morning, February 27, 2026. This situation was brought to the attention of a single bench of the High Court, even though the case was already under review by a division bench. Attorneys representing the petitioners informed the court that, contrary to the stay order issued the previous day, tickets were still available for online purchase. They expressed concerns that this could lead to the film being shown in theaters, raising significant legal issues.

Concerns Raised by Petitioners Over Ticket Sales

The matter was presented before Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, with submissions made on behalf of petitioners Sreedev Namboodiri and Freddy Francis. Their requests led to the court's decision on February 26 to postpone the film's release for 15 days. The judge noted that there seemed to be a lack of thorough consideration by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in approving the film. Additionally, the court highlighted the potential for communal discord or negative portrayal of a community. The judge remarked that the film's teaser could misrepresent public perception and disrupt communal harmony if released without further examination.

Despite the court's ruling, the petitioners' legal representatives informed the court that ticket sales were still ongoing on Friday morning. They indicated they would check if the film was indeed screened in theaters and, if so, might pursue a contempt petition.

Producer's Appeal to Division Bench

In response to the single bench's ruling, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah filed an appeal with a division bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday night. Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P.V. Balakrishnan heard the case. After considering arguments from all parties, the division bench reserved its decision but did not issue any interim order to stay the single judge's ruling. Consequently, the 15-day hold on the film's release remains in effect.

The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond is a sequel to the contentious 2023 film The Kerala Story, which starred Adah Sharma and ignited nationwide discussions regarding its depiction of radicalization. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the original film achieved significant box office success, and the producers are hopeful for a similar outcome with the sequel, which features Ulka Gupta, Aishwarya Ojha, and Aditi Bhatia in leading roles.