HC stays release of Kerala Story 2; major setback for producers

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has stayed the release of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond’. A bench led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas delivered the interim stay. The film was scheduled to release tomorrow. The order was issued on the plea alleging that the film portrays Kerala in a bad manner. The release of the film has been stayed for 15 days.

The court had earlier pointed that the title 'Kerala Story' is untrue. Kerala is a land of religious harmony. The court had also opined that spreading the idea that everything in Kerala is like what is seen in the teaser is a wrong message. The high court had said the other day that it is not correct to say that the film is based on real events and that the film will affect the image of Kerala. The court had earlier asked for the removal of the teaser and trailer of the film. The court while considering the plea said that Kerala is a state that stands firm in its secularism.

The producer, who had informed that the film tells the story of three states including Kerala, had insisted that the name could not be changed. In the affidavit submitted in the court, it said that the teaser shows women from three states and that the teaser shows problems in different states. The producer said that the 'Goes Beyond' in the title is not used for decoration.