HC to continue hearing on pleas against Kerala Story 2 today

Kochi: The Kerala high court will continue hearing petitions challenging the release of the film "The Kerala Story–Goes Beyond", scheduled for Feb 27, on Thursday. The petitioners have alleged that the film could affect communal harmony and public order in the state. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas adjourned the pleas filed by Sreedev Namboothiri of Kannur and Athul Roy after arguments from the parties, including Sunshine Pictures, the film's producers, remained incomplete on Wednesday. During the hearing, the petitioners argued that none of the 37 women introduced as victims of alleged forced religious conversion at a promotional event in Delhi were from Kerala, yet the word "Kerala" was used in the film's title. They also challenged the filmmakers' claim that the content of teasers and trailers does not form part of the film, contending that the promotional material was misleading. Vipul Amrutlal Shah, proprietor of the production company, filed an affidavit stating that CBFC, the statutory body empowered to review cinematic content, had granted the film certification for public exhibition. He argued that a judicial review of the film's content was unwarranted in the absence of any allegation of mala fides, bias or jurisdictional error in the CBFC's decision. The affidavit further contended that the petitioners were seeking to restrain the exhibition of a certified film based solely on a two-minute teaser, without examining the complete film. As the film has not yet been publicly exhibited, it said, there is no evidence of any actual disorder or harm, and the apprehensions raised are speculative.