Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian on Saturday strongly criticised the teaser of The Kerala Story 2, accusing the filmmakers of attempting to fuel communal tensions and damage the state’s secular image.

In a Facebook post, Cherian said the teaser appeared to be part of a larger campaign to spread misinformation and portray Kerala as a hub of religious extremism. He alleged that the film promotes false narratives such as “love jihad” — a term used by right-wing groups to claim Muslim men target Hindu women for religious conversion through marriage.

Cherian said freedom of expression cannot be used as a tool to divide society or disturb communal harmony. “Presenting as truth claims that have already been rejected by investigative agencies and courts is aimed solely at political gain,” he wrote, adding that Kerala would stand united against such attempts to polarise people.

"Kerala will stand united against attempts to reap political benefits by sowing the poisonous seeds of communal hatred," Cherian added.

The teaser of Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, was released on Friday and has triggered sharp political reactions.