The highly anticipated teaser for "The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" has been released, offering a glimpse into the sequel of the controversial 2023 film. Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the film is set to hit theaters nationwide on February 27, 2026.
The teaser introduces a fresh cast, including Ulka Gupta, Aishwarya Ojha, and Aditi Bhatia, who portray three young Hindu women. The initial scenes depict their ordinary lives, filled with romance, trust, and emotional connections as they fall in love with three Muslim men. However, the atmosphere quickly shifts, revealing a hidden agenda of religious conversion and manipulation.
The sequel appears to be taking a different approach compared to the first film. While "The Kerala Story" focused on the victimisation of the protagonists, "The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" seems to emphasize resilience and retaliation. The teaser culminates with the women declaring, "Ab sahenge nahin… ladenge," which translates to "We will not tolerate this anymore, we will fight!". This slogan is positioned as central to the film's message and tone, suggesting a narrative of reclaiming agency.
The 2.06-minute teaser is accompanied by the caption "Our daughters don't fall in love, they fall in traps". It suggests that the film will explore the long-term aftermath and systemic layers of the issues introduced in the original blockbuster. The teaser features the three women recounting their stories: Surekha Nair from Kerala, an IAS aspirant; Neha Sant from Madhya Pradesh, a javelin throw player aspiring to represent India at the Olympics; and Divya Paliwal from Rajasthan, who aspired to be a social media influencer. The film explores how their dreams are shattered when they allegedly fall into traps of religious conversion.
"The Kerala Story," released in 2023, generated significant public support but also stirred controversy. The film was criticised for its depiction of religious conversion and its claims about the number of women from Kerala who were allegedly converted and joined ISIS.
"The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" is written by Amarnath Jha and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, with music by Mannan Shaah and lyrics by Manoj Muntashir. The film is co-produced by Aashin A Shah under the Sunshine Pictures banner. With its release date fast approaching, the film is already generating buzz and anticipation, promising a deeper and more confrontational exploration of the sensitive issues it tackles.
The film's focus on religious conversion comes amid ongoing debates and concerns about anti-conversion laws in India. These laws, which exist in several states, aim to restrict or prohibit conversion from one religion to another, often with the stated intention of preventing forced conversions. However, critics argue that these laws can be used to harass and persecute individuals, particularly those from minority religious groups.
