Producers oppose pre-release screening for court; 'Kerala Story-2' arguments to continue today

KOCHI: The hearing on the petition challenging the title of the film 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' will continue today. The film serves as a sequel to the controversial 2023 film The Kerala Story, continuing its focus on themes of forced religious conversion and terrorism, but expanding its scope beyond just the state of Kerala. The arguments of the producers and others in the case are yet to be completed. The matter is being considered by a bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas. The film is scheduled to release on Friday.

Although the court expressed interest in watching the film considering the petitioners' argument that the film portrays Kerala in a bad light, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah is of the opinion that there is no need for the court's examination in the case of a film that has been given permission to be screened by the Censor Board. Senior advocate S Sreekumar, appearing for the producer, argued that what was shown in the teaser is not in the film.

The petitioners pointed out that the makers themselves claim that the film is based on true events. "The teaser and trailer are misleading. They (producers) are doing indirectly, through the teaser and trailer, what they cannot do directly," argued Advocate Maitreyi Sachidananda Hegde, appearing for the petitioner. "The film affects the reputation of Malayalis. As a person living in Kerala, the film can be questioned in court," the petitioners explained.

"We have Kerala Crime Files, we have several stories..." the court observed. The court also pointed out that some references, like beef biryani were previously omitted from the film 'Haal'. The court is considering petitions filed by Kannur natives Sridevi Namboothiri and Atul Roy.