A still from L2: Empuraan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM The reports of the makers of Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, considering “voluntary cuts” in the film following a massive online backlash from right wing supporters led to a full-blown political controversy on Sunday (March 30, 2025) with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan coming out strongly in solidarity with the makers.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had earlier extended his wishes to the actor and director, has vowed to not watch the film. The backlash was over what appears to be references to the 2002 Gujarat pogrom in the film.
Mr. Vijayan, who said that he had gone to watch the film on Saturday (March 29) amid a hate campaign unleashed by the Sangh Parivar against the film and its actors, called for a united stand to protect the right to make films, to watch them, and to agree or disagree with them.
“The fact that the film references one of the most brutal genocides the country has ever seen has angered the Sangh Parivar, its planners. Not only the saffron party workers, but even leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [RSS] are raising public threats. There have even been reports that the producers are being forced to re-censor and edit the film under this pressure. This atmosphere of fear created by the Sangh Parivar is worrying. It does not augur well for democracy for communal elements to destroy a work of art and viciously attack artists just because it has taken a stand against communalism and depicted its horror,” said the CM in a Facebook post.
He further said that freedom of expression of a citizen must be protected in a democratic society. Violent calls to destroy and ban artwork and artists are the latest manifestations of fascist attitudes. They are a violation of democratic rights, he said.
‘A sign of cowardice’
Mr. Satheesan accused the Sangh Parivar of cowardice for unleashing threats and insults to forcibly change the content of a work of art.
“The Sangh Parivar does not have much of an understanding of history. They are also in the habit of distorting history. The Sangh Parivar thinks that freedom of expression means freedom for works created in their favor. Their agenda is to celebrate such distorted works. Cinema is the result of the efforts of a group of artists. Changing the content of a work of art by threatening and insulting through social media is not an achievement. It is a sign of cowardice. Do not forget that no matter how much you try to cover it up, historical truths can never be erased,” he said.
Chandrasekhar receives backlash from BJP
Mr. Chandrasekhar, whose earlier post in support of the film ahead of its release had received backlash from BJP workers, said that any movie that tries to build a story by distorting the truth is doomed to fail.
“I had watched Lucifer and had liked it. I had said that I would watch the movie Empuraan when I heard it was a sequel to Lucifer. But now I have come to know that the makers of the movie themselves have made 17 amendments in the movie and that the movie is undergoing re-censorship. I understand that there were topics in the movie that disturbed Mohanlal fans and other viewers. So, I will not be watching the movie,” he said.
The makers of Empuraan are considering seventeen cuts, including the name of Baba Bajrangi, the antagonist who leads the mob, which appears to be a reference to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi who was sentenced to life imprisonment for masterminding the Naroda Patiya massacre during the 2002 pogrom.
Published – March 30, 2025 02:09 pm IST
