Protests Erupt as The Kerala Story 2 Faces Release Challenges

The controversial film The Kerala Story 2 has experienced a tumultuous release, following a series of protests in Kerala. Just a day after the Kerala High Court allowed the film to premiere, ticket sales began slowly, raising concerns about its commercial viability. Protests erupted on February 28, 2026, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled screening in Kannur as activists from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) took to the streets.

The protest in Thrissur was led by K. S. Russal Raj, Secretary of the DYFI Thrissur District Committee. Activists marched to the Thrissur Fun Movies theatre, where they engaged in a symbolic act of protest by pouring charcoal over the film’s posters. The demonstrations escalated to tearing and burning posters outside theatres, prompting clashes that ultimately forced organizers to issue refunds to ticket holders.

Cinemas across Kerala have responded to the unrest. The screening at Cinepolis in the Mall of Travancore, located in Thiruvananthapuram, was also cancelled after similar protests took place, halting rescheduled showings. The theatre management confirmed that no live screenings would occur inside the mall.

The controversy surrounding The Kerala Story 2 began with the release of its trailer, which sparked significant backlash. The film portrays the lives of three young women who allegedly fall victim to deceptive marriages and face forced religious conversions. This sensitive subject matter has incited strong reactions from various groups and social media users alike.

Initially, the release of the film was halted for 15 days by the Kerala High Court following multiple petitions. However, a division bench comprising Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P. V. Balakrishnan granted a stay on the initial order, allowing the film to be screened once again. The interim order was issued late Thursday night after an appeal by Vipul Shah, the film’s co-writer and producer under his banner Sunshine Pictures.

In a press conference following the court’s decision, Shah expressed his commitment to the film’s integrity. He stated, “Neither our film nor I, nor my crew members, are against the state of Kerala, God’s Own Country. It’s a beautiful and wonderful state, but if something wrong is happening there, then I’m just bringing it to people’s notice. Once you watch the film, you will see that we’ve not said anything negative about Kerala or the people of Kerala.”

As tensions surrounding the film persist, it remains to be seen how audiences will respond both in ticket sales and ongoing protests. The situation highlights the complex interplay between artistic expression and societal values in contemporary India.