Justices AD Jagadish Chandira and C Sarvanan on Thursday. The Kerala Story is a Hindi film about a group of women from Kerala who join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The film is slated for release on May 5, Friday

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Madras High Court seeking a ban on the upcoming Hindi film, The Kerala Story.

The petition is likely to be heard by vacation bench of Justices AD Jagadish Chandira and C Sarvanan on Thursday.

The Kerala Story is a Hindi film about a group of women from Kerala who join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The film is slated for release on May 5, Friday.

The petitioner city based journalist Aravindakshan BR, has claimed in his PIL that the film, which is slated to release in cinema theatres for public viewing on May 5, is a “propaganda film,” made without even basic research.

The film, the PIL claims, is likely to disturb religious harmony and public peace in the country.

The PIL says the film does not quote any official sources to back its claim that women from Kerala joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“I submit that, The neither the Home Ministry nor the intelligence agencies have released such information, I don’t understand that Sunshine Pictures released the teaser of the movie The Kerala Story claiming it was a true story,” the PIL reads.

The plea has, therefore, urged the Court to direct the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and the Tamil Nadu government to consider the petitioner’s previous representations made to them to order a complete ban on the release of the film.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain a petition filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind challenging the release of film.

The top court had, while rejecting the plea, granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the appropriate High Court.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said it cannot allow the Supreme Court to become a “super Article 226 court”. The said Article provides for High Courts to issue instructions or writs to government authorities.

Yet another petition is petition before the Kerala High Court seeking a stay on the release of the movie. The High Court had sought the response of the Central government, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the producers of the movie but posted the case for further hearing on May 5 when the film is slated for release.

Even before its release (scheduled this Friday), the film had invited criticism from several quarters. In Kerala, the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress party have alleged that it is a propaganda movie promoting a fake narrative and an agenda of right wing organisations.