The release of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond has ignited a firestorm across Kerala, proving to be even more controversial than the first. Just one day after the Kerala High Court cleared the film for release on February 27, 2026, theaters in major hubs like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kannur have been forced to pull the plug on screenings. Outside the cinema halls, the scene has been one of chaos: activists from the DYFI and other groups have been seen tearing down posters, dousing them in charcoal, and even burning them in the streets. While the makers, led by producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, insist the film is a “cautionary tale” based on researched facts, protesters argue it is a “propaganda” piece designed to disrupt the state’s communal harmony.
It’s not just the protests keeping the doors shut; in many places, the audience simply didn’t show up. At the iconic Shenoys theater in Kochi, shows were cancelled because fewer than ten people arrived for the screening. Between the fear of violence and a general lack of interest in some districts, theater owners are choosing to issue refunds rather than risk a security nightmare. Despite the rocky start in Kerala, the film is seeing a different story elsewhere, earning over ₹5 crore nationally in its first two days. As the debate over “freedom of expression” versus “hate speech” rages on in the courts and on the streets, the future of the film’s run in its namesake state remains uncertain.
