Published Feb 01, 2026 | 9:18 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 01, 2026 | 9:18 AM
Saji Cherian at a public function in Chengannur, Kerala.
Synopsis: Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian came down heavily on the teaser of the second instalment of the movie The Kerala Story, accusing its makers of seeking to fuel communal polarisation and damage Kerala’s secular ethos.
Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian, on Saturday, 31 January, came down heavily on the teaser of the second instalment of the movie The Kerala Story, accusing its makers of seeking to fuel communal polarisation and damage Kerala’s secular ethos.
In a Facebook post, Cherian said the teaser, at first glance itself, appeared to be another output of what he described as the Sangh Parivar’s “lie-manufacturing machinery,” with little regard for facts.
He alleged that the film was trying to project Kerala — widely regarded as a model of communal harmony — as a hub of religious extremism, with the intention of tarnishing the state’s image globally.
The minister said the repeated circulation of what he called fabricated narratives, such as “love jihad,” along with inflammatory dialogue, was a calculated move to disturb Kerala’s long-standing atmosphere of peace and coexistence.
Emphasising that freedom of expression comes with responsibility, Cherian said it could not be used as a pretext to divide society or polarise the nation.
He alleged that presenting as facts claims already dismissed by investigative agencies and courts was aimed purely at reaping political dividends.
Asserting that such attempts would not succeed, Cherian said Kerala would respond collectively.
The Kerala High Court had refused to stay the release of the first part of the film, stating that its trailer did not contain anything offensive to any particular community. It added that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had examined the movie and found it suitable for public exhibition.
The movie’s trailer was severely criticised and challenged before the court for “falsely” claiming that 32,000 women from Kerala got converted and radicalised, and were deployed in terror missions both in India and abroad.
The BJP had alleged that there was an unofficial ban on the movie in the theatres of the state. Strong protests were held by the CPI(M) and the Congress against the movie when it was released in 2023.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
