Kerala High Court to Watch The Kerala Story 2 Before Passing Verdict

Kochi: The High Court has decided to watch The Kerala Story 2 before passing its verdict. The move by the division bench, comprising Justice N. Nagaresh and Muhammad Niyas C.P., is to examine whether the film's content is hateful and whether it is deliberately attempting to defame Kerala. The court is considering petitions filed by Thrissur-native advocate K. Vincent, among others, seeking to halt the film's release. The petition also claims that the Censor Board's approval of the film is illegal.

The court observed that it takes the petitioners' argument that the film's theme could cause division in society seriously. The petition also argues that some parts of the trailer hurt religious sentiments. The producers, however, maintain that cinema is an art form and that freedom of expression should not be restricted.

The court has requested a special screening of the film for the judges, and will issue its final ruling only after watching it.

Cultural and political figures in Kerala had previously criticised the film, claiming that it is a deliberate attempt to portray the state as a hub of terrorism. The criticism is strong, with allegations that the movie, following the first part of the series, is aimed at furthering communal polarisation.