The Kerala High Court today sought a response from film producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah to an application seeking the removal of the film Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond from the OTT platform Zee5 [Yohan George v Union of India & ors]..Justice PV Kunhikrishnan issued the notice while considering an application moved in a connection with a pending petition against the film filed before its release.The Court today initially questioned whether the plea had become infructuous in view of the film's theatrical release."Naatukar muzhuvan kandechkazhinj inni OTTill entha? (Translation: everyone has seen the film, what is the problem with its OTT release?) OTT is only to small portion of people," Justice Kunhikrishnan remarked.However, the Court eventually agreed to examine the plea further but clarified that its maintainability is also left to be decided..The application before the Court was filed by Yohan George, a resident of Kochi. He has challenged the CBFC certification granted to Kerala Story 2 and also sought the removal of “Kerala/ Keralam” from the movie title.He had earlier filed a petition against the film's theatrical release on concerns that the film misrepresented Kerala and promoted communal disharmony. A single judge Bench had initially stayed the film's release on February 26. However, an appeal by the filmmakers against the single judge order was listed on an urgent basis the same evening before a Division Bench, which proceeded to vacate the stay on the film's release a day later on February 27. This main petition remains pending a final verdict. In the meanwhile, the film had its theatrical release and is now streaming on Zee5..George has now filed a fresh application to remove the film from the OTT platform. His plea states that the film has been streaming on OTT platform Zee5 since May 1, 2026. George has argued that the film's continued availability has promoted and normalised a false narrative about Kerala.The petitioner added that he had earlier submitted a representation in the matter to the Content Grievance Redressal Officer of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited on June 12, seeking the immediate removal of the film from the OTT platform.He has contended that the film's OTT release had led to widespread circulation of clips and excerpts from the movie across social media platforms, often accompanied by a post portraying the film as based on real event from Kerala and promoting hostility against the Muslim minority as well as Malayalis.The petitioner argues that the circulation of such content has contributed to a distorted perception of Kerala and the Muslim community, resulting in a campaign of vilification in the digital space."It is submitted that numerous capsule versions and excerpts from the film are being widely circulated across social media platforms such as Instagram, X, and Reddit, often accompanied by hashtags such as #JaagoHinduJaago, falsely projecting the film as depicting real events and inciting targeted hostility against the minority community," the application stated..The plea has been moved through advocate Chelson Chembarathy..[Read live coverage]
