Kochi, February 27 The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed for two weeks the interim order passed by a single judge, which had put on hold the release of the film 'The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond' for 15 days.
A bench of justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the order on Thursday night, following an appeal filed by the film's producer, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, hours after the movie's release had been stayed.
The bench had reserved its order on Thursday night.
The detailed order is awaited.
Shah had claimed in his appeal that the film does not harm or denigrate the state of Kerala or any religious community.
"The film only portrays a social evil," his lawyers told the court.
Shah had also contended that if the film's release was put on hold, it would "financially ruin" the producers, as the movie was set to be screened in 1,500 theaters in India and over 300 abroad on February 27.
The single judge had stayed the release of the film on the grounds that the censor board, CBFC, had manifestly failed to apply its mind to the legal requirements.
The judge also said that "the possibility of communal disharmony or denigration of a community also being prima facie involved in the movie", its release without scrutiny by the higher authorities would be legally improper.
The court further said that the content of the film's teaser has "a prima facie potential to distort public perception and disturb communal harmony".