The Scathing Critique at Kochi Airport
Acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, known for his unfiltered opinions and gritty realism, has once again stirred the pot in Indian cinema. Upon landing at the Kochi airport for the Filmfare Awards, Kashyap was approached by reporters regarding his views on the upcoming and highly debated sequel, “The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond.” Without mincing words, Kashyap dismissed the project entirely, stating, “The Kerala Story is bullsht propaganda.”* His remarks come at a time when the film’s trailer has already polarized audiences across the nation, with legal notices being served by the Kerala High Court over its potentially divisive content.
“Not Even Khichdi is Fed Like This”: The Beef Scene Controversy
One of the most talked-about moments in the trailer involves a harrowing scene where a captive woman is allegedly forced to eat beef by a Muslim family. Kashyap, known for his cinematic eye, found the execution of the scene to be far from reality.
“Aisa beef kaun khilata hai? Aisa koi khichdi bhi nahi khilata hai (Who feeds someone beef like this? No one is fed even khichdi in this manner),” Kashyap remarked with a mix of sarcasm and disbelief.
His critique suggests that the scene is not just culturally insensitive but also poorly crafted, serving only to incite emotion rather than reflect a lived truth.
Greed and Division: Kashyap Calls Out the Makers
The filmmaker didn’t stop at the content; he took a direct aim at the motivations behind the production. Kashyap labeled the makers as “greedy bootlickers” who are motivated by financial gain and political appeasement rather than artistic integrity.
“They just want to make money and please everybody; divide people. The filmmaker is a greedy man. He just wants to make money,” he added. This scathing assessment reflects a growing sentiment among a section of the film industry that views such “issue-based” sequels as calculated attempts to monetize communal tensions.
The Producers’ Defense and Legal Hurdles
In response to the mounting criticism, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah has maintained that the film is an attempt to “expose a conspiracy” of forced conversions across India, not just in Kerala. Despite his defense, the Kerala High Court has issued notices to the producers following a petition that claims the film portrays a biased narrative that could incite communal violence.
As the film prepares for its February 27, 2026 release, the battle lines are drawn. On one side are the creators claiming to tell the “brutal truth,” and on the other are critics like Kashyap who see it as a dangerous tool for social fragmentation.
