Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Tourism Department has responded with sharp wit to the controversy surrounding The Kerala Story 2, sharing a social media poster carrying the cheeky tagline, “No Beef With Anyone”.

The phrase — playing on both food and feud — was widely interpreted as a subtle rejoinder to scenes in the film’s trailer that sparked outrage for implying that beef is forcibly served in Kerala. The Tourism Department’s message was clear: the state stands for harmony, not hostility.
 

 

Accompanied by the caption, “Love, unity and an inclusive spirit; welcome to God’s Own Country,” the poster celebrates Kerala’s secular fabric and long-standing tradition of hospitality. The campaign has gained huge traction online, with many praising the clever wordplay. In colloquial English, “beef” can also mean a quarrel or conflict — a meaning the department appears to have intentionally invoked.

 

The controversy comes amid legal challenges to the film. The Kerala High Court has issued notices to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the producers, Sunshine Pictures, after a petition sought cancellation of the film’s censor certificate. The plea was filed by Kannur-based petitioner Sridev Namboothiri, who alleged that Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, slated for release on February 27, is a propaganda-driven project aimed at tarnishing the state’s image.

The trailer, released earlier this month, suggests a storyline involving four young women allegedly ensnared by extremist elements — a theme that has already triggered political and social debate.

The original The Kerala Story had drawn heavy criticism over what opponents described as exaggerated and factually inaccurate claims, with some regions witnessing law and order concerns. The new petition argues that the sequel could once again heighten communal tensions.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier voiced strong objections. In a Facebook statement, he warned that the sequel must be viewed with seriousness if it is designed to “spread hatred against Kerala and undermine its secular tradition.” Referring to the first instalment, he described it as filled with “outright lies, hatred and anti-Kerala propaganda” and said it was rejected by the people despite being presented as art. He also alleged that forces uncomfortable with Kerala’s model of fraternity and secularism were behind sustained attempts to vilify the state.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor similarly criticised the film, calling its narrative “blatant falsehoods” that risk fuelling social division. He argued that claims of thousands of women being converted and trafficked for extremist activities lack credible evidence. Official figures, he noted, indicate that only around 30 such cases have been reported in recent years, and exaggerating them into tens of thousands distorts reality.