The Kerala Story 2 Makers Face Media Questions

The makers of The Kerala Story 2 faced tough questions from the media during a press conference held in Delhi to promote the upcoming film.

Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and director Kamakhya Narayan Singh addressed reporters about the film’s subject and title. During the event, they introduced 30 women who, according to them, had allegedly experienced forced religious conversions.

However, journalists questioned the filmmakers about the absence of any women from Kerala among those presented at the event. The women introduced were reportedly from states including West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Responding to the query, Shah said individuals from Kerala had been presented during promotions of the first film and that related videos were available publicly. He added that bringing the same people again would have led to further criticism.

When asked how the sequel differed from the earlier film, Singh reportedly stated that the theme remains similar but aims to show that the issue is not limited to one state. He described the film as a “pan-India” story.

Some reporters questioned why the film continued to use Kerala in its title if the issue was being projected as nationwide. Singh responded that the narrative connects Kerala to broader developments across the country.

An exchange also took place when a reporter said Kerala is among the leading states in education and accused the film of damaging its image. In response, Shah referred to statements allegedly made in the state assembly by a former chief minister and said that ignoring social issues could harm any state.

The discussion further extended to criticism of the film by actors such as Anurag Kashyap and Prakash Raj. Shah questioned whether critics had shown sensitivity towards the alleged victims highlighted by the filmmakers.

A debate also emerged over the use of the term “love jihad.” The filmmakers claimed the term has been recognised in certain court observations. However, some journalists pointed out that in 2020, the central government stated that the term is not defined under Indian law, and no central agency has officially reported cases under that specific term. They also referred to related observations made by the Kerala High Court.

The press conference saw several heated exchanges, but the filmmakers maintained that the film is not politically motivated and denied suggestions that its release was linked to electoral considerations.

The Kerala Story 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on February 27.

The film’s subject has once again sparked public debate, with supporters and critics expressing strong views. As the release date approaches, discussions around its theme and impact are likely to continue.