Kerala CM Slams The Kerala Story 2 as Hate Propaganda

A political controversy has engulfed the upcoming film "The Kerala Story 2," with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemning it as a vehicle for hate propaganda, while leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party defend it as a portrayal of real social issues. The teaser for the sequel, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and scheduled for release on February 27, depicts three Hindu women who enter relationships with Muslim men, only to uncover an alleged agenda of religious conversion. The row, centered in Kerala but drawing national attention, intensified this week following the teaser's release.

Vijayan, in statements issued by his office and posted on social media, described the film as an extension of efforts to undermine Kerala's secular traditions. He argued that the first installment, released in 2023, was produced to spread hatred against the state by fabricating narratives around communalism and forced conversions. "They are spreading false propaganda by portraying even marriages conducted with mutual consent as examples of communalism and forced religious conversion," Vijayan said. He questioned why such "poisonous works" are permitted for screening while other...