Mainstream WeeklyWith the release of Kerala Story-2 on 27th February 2026, an influx of opinions and defences has hijacked social media and other popular discourse across the country. The first movie (part-1), released in 2023, faced a similar storm at the time of release and found acceptance from sections of the political elite. Promoted as the true story of over 32,000 girls targeted and converted by Islamists, going on to serve the interests of radical groups like ISIS, The Kerala Story was criticised for shaming the state and being another devious plan to hamper the secular fabric that lives on thinner threads nowadays.
Despite being a poorly made film, the first part won top accolades in the 2025 National Film Awards, including Best Direction for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography. This is indicative of a clear trend of awarding candy to artists who do not use the medium to question the government. The awards have become irrelevant due to an incessant obsession with honouring lacklustre attempts at cinema that double as propaganda to please divisive figures.
The trailer of the sequel similarly stirred controversy with its tone and politics, aiming to be the harbinger of an agitprop film, while demonising a community and scrapping the secular identity of Kerala. A particular dialogue in the trailer referencing Beef, a favoured meat dish in the state, has been doing the rounds on social media, with naysayers and supporters alike sharing their thoughts. The understanding of this issue seems a bit regressive from the makers’ perspective, as Beef in the state is buffalo meat, not the regular cow meat. With cow politics on the rise in the country after 2014, the fixation over Beef lacks comprehension, as even recently, during the Kerala Film Festival, the Central Government did not give clearance to a Spanish film titled