"Audience doesn’t take him seriously": Kamakhya Narayan Singh hits back at Anurag Kashyap over ‘Kerala Story 2’

A fierce public spat has erupted in Bollywood just days before the release of "The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond", with filmmaker Kamakhya Narayan Singh responded strpongly against director Anurag Kashyap after the latter branded his film “propaganda” and accused it of spreading hatred.

In a sharply worded video statement posted on X, Singh defended both the intent and subject of his upcoming film, accusing Kashyap of intellectual dishonesty and dismissing his criticism as irresponsible.

The controversy began when Kashyap, reacting to The Kerala Story 2, described it as a “b****t propaganda movie,” alleging that it seeks to divide society. He also mocked a scene referenced in discussions around the film, saying, “Aise to log khichdi bhi nahi khilate jaisa movie mein beef khila rahe hai,” implying exaggeration and sensationalism in its portrayal.

His remarks quickly went viral, setting off a fresh round of debate over cinematic freedom, political narratives and the thin line between storytelling and ideology.

Responding directly, Singh rejected Kashyap’s criticism and reframed the debate around consent and coercion.

“Anurag Kashyap ji ne kaha hai ki koi aisa kisiko khichdi bhi nahi khilata. Main maanta hoon — koi kisiko aise laddoo bhi nahi khila sakta. Par durbhagyavash, humare samaaj mein masoom betiyon ko unka dharam parivartan karne ke liye unko beef khilaya ja raha hai — yeh ek crime hai,” Singh said in the video message.

He further accused Kashyap of being “mentally weak” and perpetually dissatisfied. “Unko Brahmanon se dikkat hai, unko Netflix se dikkat hai, unko film industry se dikkat hai. Is aadmi ko har cheez se dikkat hai,” Singh alleged.

In a more pointed attack, Singh referenced Kashyap’s earlier film That Girl in Yellow Boots, questioning its subject matter and accusing the director of hypocrisy. He claimed that a filmmaker who explored controversial themes in his own cinema was now unwilling to tolerate narratives he disagrees with.

Singh also posted a written message alongside the video, sharpening his argument.

“The issue isn't what was shown in the film — khichdi, beef, or something else. The real question is consent and coercion. You can't even feed someone khichdi against their will. If a film raises the issue of forced change or pressure, calling it hate-mongering is intellectual dishonesty,” he wrote.

He further accused Kashyap of dismissing opposing viewpoints by labelling them “propaganda” while defending his own work as “creative freedom.”

“Your lies are creative freedom, and our truth is propaganda!” Singh added, demanding that debate be based on “facts and data” rather than name-calling.

"The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" is slated for theatrical release on February 27, 2026. The previous installment of the franchise, directed by Sudipto Sen, had triggered intense political debate but went on to earn over Rs 300 crore at the box office.

With tempers already flaring online, the sequel now enters cinemas amid renewed scrutiny over the intersection of cinema, religion, and politics in India.