National, Feb 23: A heated exchange has erupted in Bollywood ahead of the release of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, with filmmaker Kamakhya Narayan Singh issuing a strong rebuttal to director Anurag Kashyap after the latter labelled the film “propaganda” and accused it of fuelling hatred.
The controversy began when Kashyap reacted to the upcoming sequel by calling it a “b****t propaganda movie” and alleging that it was designed to create division. He also took aim at a scene widely discussed in relation to the film, remarking that people do not even serve khichdi in the exaggerated manner shown with beef in the movie, suggesting that the portrayal was sensationalised. His comments quickly gained traction online, reigniting debate over creative freedom, political messaging and the boundaries between storytelling and ideology.
Responding through a video statement posted on X, Singh defended the purpose and theme of his film, accusing Kashyap of intellectual dishonesty and irresponsible criticism. He argued that the central issue raised in the film concerns consent and coercion, not food symbolism. Referring to Kashyap’s remarks, Singh said that just as one cannot force someone to eat khichdi or laddoos, coercing individuals into actions against their will is a serious matter. He alleged that forcing religious conversion under pressure is a crime and insisted that raising such issues in cinema should not be dismissed as hate-mongering.
Singh further criticised Kashyap personally, claiming the director is perpetually dissatisfied and objecting to multiple sections of society and the industry. In a pointed response, he also referenced Kashyap’s earlier film, That Girl in Yellow Boots, questioning its subject matter and accusing the director of hypocrisy for defending controversial themes in his own work while condemning narratives he disagrees with.
Alongside the video, Singh shared a written statement sharpening his stance. He maintained that the debate should centre on consent and coercion rather than being reduced to selective outrage over scenes. He accused Kashyap of branding opposing viewpoints as propaganda while justifying his own projects as creative freedom, and called for discussions grounded in facts and data rather than name-calling.
The previous instalment of the franchise, The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, had sparked significant political debate upon release but ultimately earned more than ₹300 crore at the box office. With The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond scheduled to hit theatres on February 27, 2026, the sequel now arrives amid renewed scrutiny over the complex interplay of cinema, religion and politics in India.
