‘The Kerala Story 2’ sees weekend surge at box office

Bengaluru: The sequel to the controversial film The Kerala Story has hit theatres, reigniting debate and political reactions across several states. Titled The Kerala Story 2, the film opened amid legal hurdles and public protests but witnessed a sharp rise in collections over its first weekend.

The film, directed by Kamakshya Narayan Singh, features Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha in lead roles. It is backed by producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who also produced the first instalment.

Ahead of its release, the film faced legal trouble after the Kerala High Court briefly stayed its release following petitions challenging its content. However, within hours, the court took up a re-hearing and allowed the film to be released in theatres. The movie eventually hit screens on Friday.

On its opening day, the film reportedly collected Rs 75 lakh at the box office — a modest start compared to the expectations surrounding the sequel. However, collections saw a dramatic jump over the weekend.

On Saturday, the film earned Rs 4.65 crore, followed by Rs 5 crore on Sunday, indicating growing audience turnout despite ongoing controversy.

Like its predecessor, The Kerala Story 2 revolves around the theme of alleged “love jihad,” a subject that has triggered sharp political and social debates. The first film, The Kerala Story, portrayed the alleged radicalisation and recruitment of Hindu women into extremist organisations such as ISIS after religious conversion.

That film had also faced protests, legal challenges, and calls for bans in certain states, including West Bengal, though such efforts did not ultimately halt its nationwide run.

The sequel has once again divided opinion, with critics accusing it of promoting a polarising narrative, while supporters argue it raises awareness about sensitive issues. The legal scrutiny and public debate appear to have amplified curiosity around the film, contributing to the spike in weekend earnings.

Trade analysts say the coming weekdays will be crucial in determining whether the film can sustain momentum at the box office. With controversy continuing to surround its storyline and political undertones, all eyes are now on the film’s overall lifetime collection and its impact on the broader debate it has reignited.

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