The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued an urgent notice to filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah, producer of Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, on a petition challenging the film’s certification and seeking the removal of the word “Kerala” from its title.
Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan, while hearing the matter, questioned whether the plea had become infructuous since the film had already been released and watched by a large number of people.
However, the court agreed to consider the petition after the petitioner argued that the issue remained alive because the movie continues to be available on OTT platforms.
The petitioner alleged that the film harms Kerala’s reputation, promotes social disharmony, and projects a narrative against Keralites and minority communities.
The plea invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to promoting enmity between groups, acts prejudicial to national integration, and deliberate acts intended to hurt religious sentiments.
It also seeks to implead Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, which released the film digitally on May 1.
The petitioner has submitted additional documents, including communications sent to the OTT platform and social media screenshots alleging that the film is being presented as a factual account.
The case follows earlier litigation over the film’s release, with the High Court now set to examine both the fresh plea and the broader legal question of whether private parties can challenge a film’s certification on grounds that it allegedly damages a state’s reputation. (IANS)
