Kerala Story 2 Row: Vijayan Urges Rejection of ‘Hate Film’

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calls for rejecting The Kerala Story 2, labeling it a “poisonous creation” spreading communal hate through lies in

. The controversy erupted after the trailer’s February 17, 2026 release, showing three young women from different states, including Kerala, trapped by lovers into conversion.

Vijayan slammed the film as propaganda by forces fearing Kerala’s secular harmony, urging unity like the 2023 rejection of part one. The original The Kerala Story faced bans, court battles, and criticism for exaggerating ISIS recruitments from Kerala, called fictionalized hate speech in. Courts allowed release with disclaimers on unverified claims.

Netizens divide: some hail it “brutal truth” on nationwide risks, others decry election-timed manipulation. Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the U/A certified sequel releases February 27, 2026. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal accused it of insulting Kerala with false stories.

Kerala ministers echo: resist this threat to brotherhood. The row revives 2023 debates on propaganda vs. awareness, testing free speech ahead of 2026 polls.