Not interested in watching ‘The Kerala Story 2’, says State BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar

BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday (February 23, 2026) said he had no plans to watch the upcoming Bollywood movie The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond even as he sought to distance himself from the political controversies surrounding the film. His comment comes amid the film’s trailer drawing sharp criticism from various quarters for allegedly portraying the State in a poor light.

“I’m not at all interested in watching it,” Mr. Chandrasekhar categorically stated during an interaction with the media after inaugurating the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) zonal office at Thrikkakara in Kochi.

“Let those who want to watch the film do so, and those who have no interest in it don’t have to watch it,” he said.

Citing the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution, the BJP leader said it was “up to the courts” to decide if there is anything “illegal” in a film. “Everyone has the right to make a film. If there is anything illegal in it, the court of law will strike it down,” he said.

Mr. Chandrasekhar said he had adopted a similar stand during the controversy surrounding the Mohanlal-starrer Empuraan too. The film had drawn sharp criticism from right-wing supporters over the alleged depiction of the Godhra riots and had to undergo re-censoring.

The BJP leader, however, evaded repeated questions as to whether he had any objection to the content in the trailer of The Kerala Story 2. “I said I’m not going to watch it,” he reasserted, adding on a lighter vein that, “I liked watching Dhurandhar. I even watched it twice.” (The blockbuster spy thriller had sparked debate over allegations that it served the BJP’s political interests.)

Slams CM on Sabarimala row

Mr. Chandrasekhar, meanwhile, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was “putting in all efforts to cover up the Sabarimala gold scandal.”

Citing the instance of the Kollam Vigilance Court granting bail to Sabarimala chief priest Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, citing lack of evidence to prove his involvement in the gold theft, the BJP leader reiterated that his party had “zero trust” in the Special Investigation Team probing the case.

He said he had kept saying the Tantri’s arrest was to divert public attention from the involvement of CPI(M) leaders in the crime, and alleged that the Congress was “only parroting” the BJP’s stand now after remaining silent in the Kerala Assembly earlier.