Sources close to the producers of Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer Empuraan told that they have decided to make about 17 cuts in the movie. These include scenes related to violence against women and some of the riot scenes. Reportedly, it is said that the name of the antagonist, Baba Bajrangi (played by Abhimanyu Singh), is likely to be changed, and certain words are to be muted as well. The Central Board of Film Certification will censor the new version and it will be screened from next week, as per sources.
Earlier, one of the L2: Empuraan producers Gokulam Gopalan said that he had asked director-actor Prithviraj to make changes to the film after it was claimed that the movie hurt the sentiments of a certain section of the audience. Speaking to Manorama Online, the producer said, “If any scenes or dialogues shown in the movie Empuraan hurt anyone, I have told director Prithviraj to make changes.”
“Some words have been muted for the time being. There have been protests for certain things shown in the movie and I have asked the director if he can make any changes. He should. The film was censored, there were no issues then. We have no connection with any political party.
Mohanlal’s highly anticipated film, ‘L2: Empuraan’, has ignited a fierce debate on social media with some viewers interpreting it as having a political undertone that allegedly disparages right-wing ideologies. Empuraan has also sparked controversy over its content, particularly the depiction of scenes set against the backdrop of the 2002 Gujarat riots, which occurred in the state when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister. With the movie featuring the leader of a Hindutva outfit as the main antagonist — portrayed to have orchestrated the mass murder of the family of Zayed Masood, the character played by director Prithviraj, during the riots — the Sangh Parivar has launched a smear campaign against the film. While the Hindutva propagators claimed that the movie was anti-Hindu, the Left and Congress factions have praised the makers for its no-holds-barred portrayal of the right-wing organisations’ hateful and violent actions.
Certain right-wing social media handles expressed discontent, suggesting that director Prithviraj had deceived Mohanlal and his fans. A Facebook post by ‘Sanathana Dharma’ accused Prithviraj of deceiving Mohanlal and his fans. Meanwhile, media outlet HinduPost commented, “The latest Mohanlal-starrer, ‘Empuraan’, has revealed itself to be an overt Hindu-bashing propaganda film, portraying Hindus as villains amidst the ongoing genocide of Hindus across the subcontinent, including India.”
As the day unfolded, Left-leaning social media handles, initially cautious, began praising and congratulating Prithviraj for his “courage in telling a truthful story.” Kerala Congress’s social media handle said the film exposes what they call the “Sangh agenda” of dividing Kerala and gaining control of its strategic coastline and ports. The BJP’s state secretary S Suresh said, “Empuraan film is not a political issue. The Kerala BJP won’t interfere in it. Movie lovers have the liberty to watch the movie and support or criticise it.” Empuraan’s writer Murali Gopy, however, has dismissed the controversy, while maintaining that people have the right to interpret the film in their way. “I will keep total silence on the controversy. Let them fight it out. Everyone has the right to interpret the film in their own way. Let them interpret it. I will keep mum,” Murali said
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s L2:Empuraan has landed in controversy for its references to the 2002 Godhra train burning incident and the riots that followed. A section of the audience has labeled the film ‘anti-Hindu’ propaganda. One of the scenes of the movie shows a village with a Muslim population being attacked by a Hindu mob, and a pregnant Muslim woman being raped by a Hindu man. This seems to be a reference to the Bilkis Bano case, in which 11 men were convicted for the gang rape and murder of several members of a family. Baba Bajrangi, the antagonist who leads the mob in the movie, appears to be a reference to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for masterminding the Naroda Patiya massacre. The movie indirectly portrays incidents related to the Gujarat riots, focusing on the backstory of the character Zayed Masood, portrayed by Sukumaran. The film also critically examines the alleged misuse of central agencies by the ruling party. Another scene in the film shows a major political party merging with a pro-Hindu party, and how it is a threat to Kerala’s culture and ethos. The 180-minute film begins with around 15 minutes of this communal flare-up.
