The screening of The Kerala Story 2 has faced fresh trouble in Kerala. Just days after its release, a show in Thiruvananthapuram was cancelled after protests outside a theatre. Earlier, screenings were also called off in Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode.
The sequel released on February 27, 2026 after the Kerala High Court lifted a brief interim stay. Although the film received legal clearance, it has struggled to attract strong audiences in parts of Kerala.
The Kerala Story 2 Screening Cancelled After Protests
The latest protest took place at Cinepolis in the Mall of Travancore, Thiruvananthapuram. Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India gathered outside the theatre and raised slogans against the film. ANI later shared the video of the protest. Following the demonstration, one scheduled show was cancelled.
Watch the viral video of protest below
Screenings in Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode were also cancelled earlier due to low occupancy and opposition. Reports suggest that advance bookings in Kerala have been weak. As per BookMyShow data, only 68 tickets were reportedly sold by 10 am at PVR in Lulu Mall, Thiruvananthapuram.
Box office figures show a poor start. As per Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 0.75 crore on Day 1. By 5 pm on Day 2, it had collected Rs 0.27 crore, taking the total to Rs 1.02 crore in early estimates. Morning occupancy on Saturday stood at 6.45 percent, showing very limited turnout.
Actor Sumit Gahlawat Reacts To Backlash
Actor Sumit Gahlawat has responded to the criticism. He said he does not understand why people believe a film can shake their values so deeply. In an interview, he said, “I don’t think that if the values a child receives at home or school are being overpowered by a two-hour movie, then the problem lies elsewhere; perhaps they were just looking for a reason or an excuse to act out.”
He also stated that people are becoming overly sensitive and described society as “a bit too delicate or fragile.” Speaking about the protests, he added, “If you find something good in a film, take it; if you find something bad, take it positively as a lesson of what not to do, but don’t let it impact you to this extent.”
Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the sequel tells the parallel stories of three young women from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The film stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha in lead roles. Made on a reported budget of around Rs 30 crore, the film now faces a crucial test at the box office in the coming days.
