Just days after The Kerala Story 2 hit theatres, the film has landed in yet another legal and political storm, this time over its very name. On March 3, 2026, a fresh Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Kerala High Court, challenging the title and release of the recently released film and demanding that the word “Kerala” be removed from its title, citing fears of social fallout and communal tension.
The petition has been filed by a retired social science teacher and a practising lawyer, and it argues that the film’s branding unfairly links the State to themes that are deeply sensitive in the current climate.
Latest Update: Petition Seeks Title Change And A Stronger Fiction Disclaimer
As per the plea, the petitioners contend that the title and subject matter risk portraying Kerala in a negative light. The PIL flags the concern that the narrative presents the State as a hub for forced religious conversions, which the petitioners say could harm Kerala’s social and cultural image.
The plea also raises alarm about the possible impact on public order. According to the petition, the film’s storyline, as understood from available material, may foster hostility against the Muslim community in Kerala and could disturb communal harmony.
Beyond asking for the removal of “Kerala” from the title, the petitioners have also requested judicial directions to ensure the film carries a clear disclaimer stating that the story is entirely fictional. The plea urges the court to direct the Central Government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to mandate such a disclaimer so audiences do not interpret the narrative as factual.
In a broader ask, the PIL seeks directions to the Centre and the CBFC to frame comprehensive guidelines on film titles and taglines, with the stated aim that no work maligns any State, region, caste, or religion through naming and promotions.
The petition further references the ongoing legal tussle involving the film’s producers, pointing to an appeal moved before a Division Bench against an interim order by a Single Bench that had temporarily stayed the film’s release at a stage when, the plea claims, the film was yet to be uploaded or publicly screened. The matter is expected to be considered by the High Court in the coming days.
About The Kerala Story 2
The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond is a Hindi-language crime drama directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures. The film stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha, and it released theatrically on February 27, 2026. The premise follows the lives of young women and explores themes around relationships, alleged religious conversion, and societal pressure.
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