Social media is again abuzz with discussions concerning The Kerala Story 2 in which actor Prakash Raj has created a controversy. The old actor made a subtle but pointed jab at the movie by posting photos of the traditional Kerala dishes such as beef, pork, fish and a typical vegetarian sadya as it was a reference to the state diversity in terms of food.

In a message sent to X, Prakash Raj stated that the Kerala story is in the peaceful coexistence of various food cultures. This is what he meant by his message; Kerala is defined by harmony and pluralism and not division. His post seemed to criticize the manner in which the trailer of the film depicts the dynamic of food and culture, especially a scandalous scene where a character is force-fed beef.

The Kerala Story 2 Trailer has elicited heated discussions on the internet. The portrayal has been criticized by many who said that it distorted the social fabric of Kerala, and advanced a divisive story. It was the response of Prakash Raj which was remarkable since rather than going on about it and making a complex statement; he made a simple statement which anyone can easily relate to food to bring out a bigger point in coexistence.

He is by no means the only one to make an alarm. Another person who has criticised the film is filmmaker Anurag Kashyap who branded it propaganda and its authenticity. Meanwhile, the Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, was reported to denounce the storyline of the film claiming that it would destroy the decades-long record of communal peace in the state.

With the film on the verge of release, the argument throws up a bigger question – how should the motion picture reflect the delicate cultural realities? With just several food photographs and an incisive caption, Prakash Raj was able to make people realize that the story of Kerala is not about fighting with others but about unity in diversity.