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3 min readNew DelhiFeb 28, 2026 03:43 PM IST
The Kerala Story 2 released on February 27.
The Kerala Story 2, much like The Kerala Story, faced significant backlash ahead of its release. Similar to several films in recent times, Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s project had to approach the court after a petitioner sought a stay order on its release. On Thursday, a single-judge bench directed that the petitioner’s revision be considered by the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) within two weeks and granted a 15-day stay on the film. Later that evening, the producers challenged the stay order. The plea was heard by a division bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice PV Balakrishnan, who on Friday stayed the single bench’s order, offering relief to the producers.
Apparent delay in release caused confusion
Amid the legal back-and-forth, there was considerable confusion regarding the film’s release. Despite uncertainty until Friday afternoon, multiple theatres across India had already opened advance bookings for the morning shows. The official clearance for release, however, came only later in the day.
The situation grew murkier when trade portal Sacnilk published occupancy figures for the morning and afternoon shows, adding to the uncertainty.
‘Shows didn’t start before court’s order’
Addressing the issue, Akkshay Rathie, Director of Ashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, told SCREEN that screenings were conducted only after the producers received the official legal release order from the court.
“The entertainment ecosystem works as a value chain. Producers don’t directly handle advance bookings. They deal with distributors, who in turn coordinate with exhibitors. The developments happened very rapidly — the stay order, the challenge, and then its reversal. Naturally, the producers’ priority was to fight the legal battle rather than immediately communicate updates to distributors and exhibitors,” he explained.
He further clarified, “Many cinemas suspended ticket sales. However, some were not immediately informed, which is why tickets remained available at certain locations.”
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Rathie also dismissed speculative reports. “Websites may publish stories for clickbait, but the release order was issued in the afternoon, and shows were screened only after that. As an exhibitor, I can confirm that at many of our cinemas, the 12 noon show could not be run because the producers had not yet issued the release orders. They did so only after receiving a copy from the Kerala High Court.”
The Kerala Story 2 box office report day 1
Despite the chaos and the cancellation of several morning and afternoon shows, The Kerala Story 2 reportedly earned Rs 75 lakh on its opening day, according to Sacnilk. Interestingly, earlier in the day, the portal had projected Day 1 earnings at nearly Rs 3.5 crore, which was later corrected. It also reported an overall occupancy of 11.99%, with morning occupancy at 7.32% and afternoon occupancy at 15.82%, allegedly across 2,300 shows — figures that sparked further debate given the legal uncertainty surrounding the screenings.
Jyothi Jha is an incisive Copy Editor and multi-platform journalist at The Indian Express, where she specializes in high-stakes entertainment reporting and cinematic analysis. With over six years of diverse experience across India’s leading media houses, she brings a rigorous, ethics-first approach to digital storytelling and editorial curation. Experience & Career Jyothi’s career is characterized by its breadth and depth across the media landscape. Before joining the editorial team at The Indian Express, she honed her expertise covering the entertainment beat for premier national broadcasters, including NDTV, Republic Media, and TV9. Her professional journey is not limited to digital text; she has a proven track record as an on-air anchor and has successfully managed production teams within the high-pressure segments of Politics and Daily News. This 360-degree view of newsroom operations allows her to navigate the complexities of modern journalism with veteran precision. Expertise & Focus Areas Guided by the Orwellian principle that "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want you to do," Jyothi focuses on transparent, accountability-driven reporting. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Deconstruction: Analyzing the social subtext of mainstream Bollywood and South Indian cinema (e.g., Kantara, Masaan, Dabangg). Toxic Masculinity & Gender Studies: A vocal critic of regressive tropes in Indian cinema, she often highlights the industry's treatment of women and social progress. Box Office & Industry Economics: Providing data-backed predictions and analysis of film performance and superstar fee structures. Exclusive Multimedia Coverage: Conducting deep-dive interviews and long-form features that bridge the gap between archival history and modern pop culture. Authoritativeness & Trust Jyothi Jha has established herself as a trusted voice by prioritizing substance over PR-driven narratives. Her background in hard news and political production provides her with a unique lens through which she views the entertainment industry—not merely as gossip, but as a reflection of societal values. Readers rely on her for "Journalism of Courage," knowing her critiques are rooted in a deep respect for the craft and a refusal to settle for superficiality. Her ability to pivot between daily news and specialized entertainment analysis makes her a versatile and authoritative pillar of The Indian Express newsroom. ... Read More
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