The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond Movie Review
Abhishek Srivastava | Feb 28, 2026, 3:24 PM IST
Critic's Rating: 1.5/5 | Users' Rating: 1.5/5
Story and Narrative Approach
'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' follows three young women from different regions of India who enter marriages with promises of love and freedom, only to face harsh control and unexpected consequences afterward. The film tackles the sensitive issue of forced conversion of Hindu girls and places strong blame on one specific community, presenting its viewpoint without any subtlety or hesitation.
The narrative remains stagnant for most of its runtime, with meaningful redemption arriving only in the final ten minutes—by which point viewer patience has likely worn thin. Compared to its predecessor, which contained some gripping moments, this sequel feels notably weaker and more predictable, allowing audiences to guess the ending early on.
Character Portrayals and Performances
The story centers on three protagonists:
- Surekha (Ulka Gupta): A young woman from Kochi with loving parents who falls for Salim (Sumit Gahlawat), a married journalist who promises not to force conversion and to divorce his wife.
- Neha (Aishwarya Ojha): A javelin thrower from Gwalior with Olympic dreams who is deceived by Faizan (Arjan Singh Aujla), a man hiding his true identity.
- Divya (Aditi Bhatia): A talented dancer from Jodhpur who posts bold videos online and is promised freedom by Rasheed (Yuktam Khoslla).
After marriage, all three women confront strict religious rules and realize the devastating cost of their choices. The performances are sincere, with Ulka Gupta delivering a particularly strong portrayal of a woman refusing to change her faith. Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha effectively convey fear and trauma through silent reactions that often speak louder than dialogue. However, the screenplay fails to provide sufficient depth for full character exploration.
Technical and Thematic Elements
The film's background score is excessively loud and dramatic, resembling music from an apocalyptic film rather than a social drama. Visually, the movie employs a stark color scheme to contrast warm, happy Hindu households with darker, moodier Muslim settings, reinforcing its one-sided perspective.
Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh and producer-writer Vipul Amrutlal Shah rely heavily on intense scenes and speeches rather than a robust plot. The writing feels weak, and the treatment often crosses into extreme territory, leaving no room for nuance.
Controversial Themes and Climax
'The Kerala Story 2' presents a blunt message, suggesting that by 2047, India could become a Muslim state under Sharia law. It frames interfaith marriages and conversions as part of a larger plan to alter the country's demographic balance.
The climax grows even more direct, featuring arrests set against a loud, emotionally charged song. Several scenes are deeply disturbing, depicting:
- Repeated sexual assault
- Forced consumption of beef
- Brutal physical violence
While the film claims inspiration from real events—including references to Chhangur Baba and actual conversion cases—its narrative remains firmly fixed and one-sided.
Final Verdict
'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' lives up to its title by pushing extremes in depicting women trapped in forced marriages and conversions. Despite sincere performances, the film's forceful tone, shallow depth, and predictable storyline make it a challenging watch. It serves more as a vehicle for its uncompromising viewpoint than as a nuanced exploration of complex social issues.
