Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi
Kochi, Feb 25: Amid escalating controversy over the release of The Kerala Story 2, the film’s producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah has filed a counter-affidavit opposing the Kerala High Court’s direction to arrange a screening of the film prior to its release.
In his submission, Shah argued that the High Court should not exercise oversight powers to watch and evaluate the film, stating that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is the sole statutory authority empowered to examine and certify films.
He informed the court that the film had already undergone scrutiny by experts before clearance for screening was granted and that they were satisfied with its content. Shah emphasised that The Kerala Story 2 received certification from the CBFC after following all constitutional procedures.
The producer further contended that the release of a film cannot be stayed unless there is a substantial error in the CBFC’s decision. He also submitted that halting the release at this stage would result in significant financial losses.
On Tuesday, the Kerala High Court directed the makers to arrange a screening of the Hindi film in Kochi before its scheduled release on Friday, February 27.
Earlier, the production house Sunshine Pictures dismissed reports claiming that the teaser had been removed following court intervention. In a statement, the company termed such reports as “false, baseless and misleading,” clarifying that the matter is sub judice and that no court has passed any order directing the removal of content.
The Kerala Story 2 is a sequel to The Kerala Story, which was released in 2023 and had drawn nationwide debate. The earlier film depicted the lives of three young women who were allegedly lured into deceptive marriages and forced religious conversion.
Since the trailer launch of the sequel, the film has triggered strong reactions, with opposition leaders, celebrities and social media users criticising it as “propaganda,” while the makers maintain that it is based on researched real-life events.