The Kerala Story 2, backed by producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, continues its theatrical run amid ongoing debate and scrutiny. The film, which released in India last week after a legal battle, witnessed a dip in collections on its fifth day, according to trade tracking portal Sacnilk.
As per early estimates, the film earned ₹3.5 crore nett in India on day five (Wednesday). This brings its total domestic collection to approximately ₹19.4 crore nett so far.
The film opened to ₹4.65 crore on day one, followed by ₹4.75 crore on day two. Collections dropped to ₹2.5 crore on day three before rising again to ₹4 crore on day four. However, midweek numbers showed a slight decline. On day five, the movie recorded 3019 shows across the country with an overall occupancy of 13.1%.
In comparison, the first installment, The Kerala Story, had earned ₹11.14 crore on its fifth day, as per film trade analyst Taran Adarsh. Directed by Sudipto Sen, the original film released in 2023 and generated significant box office momentum despite widespread controversy.
Much like its predecessor, The Kerala Story 2 faced intense public debate even before its release. The trailer drew sharp reactions on social media, with critics labeling it “propaganda,” while supporters argued it highlights serious issues based on documented accounts. The makers have consistently maintained that the film is inspired by researched real-life incidents.
The sequel’s release was temporarily stalled due to legal challenges. However, the Kerala High Court later cleared the way for its theatrical debut. A Division Bench comprising Justices SA Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan stayed an interim order issued by Single Bench Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, which had initially halted the release for 15 days. Following the High Court’s decision to lift the stay, the film finally hit theatres nationwide.
Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the sequel centers on the lives of three young women who enter what the film portrays as deceptive marriages and subsequently face alleged forced religious conversions. The narrative expands the thematic scope of the first film, shifting focus beyond Kerala and suggesting that similar issues may exist in other parts of the country.
The film features performances by Sumit Gahlawat, Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, Aishwarya Ojha, Arjan Singh Aujla and Yuktam Kholsa in key roles.
Recently, speaking to news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), Vipul Amrutlal Shah addressed speculation about the possibility of a third installment in the franchise. He clarified that even a sequel was not part of the original plan.
“There was no plan to make even Kerala Story 2,” Shah said. “But after Kerala Story 1, we started getting lots of stories. I realised that there is a much larger evil persisting not just in Kerala but across the country, and we’ve to tell this story because it is much bigger and different than what happened in Kerala Story 1.”
He further emphasized that the decision to make a sequel was not commercially driven. “It was not like a marketing gimmick that, ‘Let’s make part two, it’s a good brand, let’s take it forward.’ No, nothing like that,” he stated.
When asked about a potential third part, Shah said there are currently no concrete plans. However, he did not entirely rule out the possibility. “If there are compelling stories coming our way, some new facts will come to light, maybe we will want to tell that story. But as of today, there is no plan,” he added.
With steady — though fluctuating — box office numbers and continuing public debate, The Kerala Story 2 remains one of the most discussed releases of the week. Whether it matches or surpasses the impact of its predecessor remains to be seen in the coming days.
