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The Kerala High Court has asked for a special screening of The Kerala Story 2 before ruling on petitions challenging its certification. The court expressed concern over the film’s portrayal of Kerala and possible communal impact.
Screening of The Kerala Story 2 sought before final decision
New Delhi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to clarify whether a special screening of the film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond can be arranged before it decides on petitions challenging the film’s censor certification. The petitions claim that the film projects Kerala in a negative and misleading manner.
During the hearing, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas referred to specific dialogues and observed that they appear to create a misleading impression about the State. He noted that Kerala is known for peaceful coexistence, but the film seems to suggest otherwise, which could have serious social consequences.
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The judge remarked that while courts usually avoid interfering with artistic expression, the situation becomes sensitive when a film claims to be “inspired by true events” and uses the name of a State in its title, potentially leading to misunderstanding and communal tension.
The court indicated that it would like to personally view the film before taking any final call. Justice Thomas directed the Centre to take instructions on whether a screening could be arranged and asked for a response in the post-lunch session. He observed that public apprehensions in Kerala “cannot be ignored” and must be carefully examined.
One of the petitioners argued that although the film’s title refers to Kerala, the narrative appears to be pan-India in nature, with incidents not limited to the State. They contended that using “Kerala” in the title could mislead audiences and unfairly stigmatise the State.
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The petition also referred to observations of the Supreme Court of India in Atul Mishra v. Union Of India, related to the proposed Ghooskhor Pandat, where it was noted that film titles should not denigrate any community or section of society.
The filmmakers argued that once a film is certified, it carries a legal presumption in its favour. However, the court observed that such a presumption is not absolute and can be examined if the content itself raises concerns. The producers sought time to take instructions on arranging the screening.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing at 2 pm.
