A day after the Kerala High Court lifted restrictions on its exhibition, Kerala Story 2 began screening across the state, but audience numbers remained disappointingly low despite the attention generated by the controversy.
The release followed a legal tussle in which a single-judge bench had temporarily halted the film’s screening for 15 days due to concerns regarding its content. Later, a Division Bench overturned that order, clearing the way for theatrical release.
Even though the court proceedings sparked widespread debate and strong opinions, this heightened discussion did not translate into strong ticket sales.
In Kozhikode, Regal Theatre had to cancel its opening show after receiving only two bookings. Across Ernakulam district, where the film is running in seven cinemas, turnout remained weak.
Pan Cinemas registered just six ticket sales for one show, while PVR reported only two bookings. Shenoys Theatre in Kochi similarly witnessed a near-empty hall for its morning screening.
Meanwhile, members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), affiliated with the CPI(M), organised peaceful protests outside theatres in Kochi, Thrissur and Kannur.
Protesters stated that they would not obstruct viewers from watching the film, noting that very few people had arrived for the screenings.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had previously criticised the film, asserting that Kerala would not accept narratives that depict the state in a divisive or misleading manner, given its commitment to communal harmony.
On the other hand, senior BJP leader and former Meghalaya Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan voiced support for viewing the film, underscoring the political divide surrounding its subject. He remarked that the substance of the film mattered more than audience numbers and confirmed that he intended to watch the sequel as he had seen the first instalment.
With a lukewarm opening in Kerala, attention is now focused on how audiences in other parts of the country will respond in the coming days.
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