New Delhi, Feb. 19 -- Kerala's political leadership has escalated its criticism of Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond after the release of the film's teaser, warning that the sequel risks reviving communal tensions and reinforcing what they describe as a manufactured narrative about the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday expressed concern over the film's upcoming release, arguing that the first instalment was produced with the "intent to spread hatred against the state and undermine its secular tradition." His remarks were followed on Thursday by a fresh attack from Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, who accused the sequel of attempting to "insult and communally divide" Kerala through "inventing false stories".

In a sta...