Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam film L2 Empuraan, which hit theatres on Thursday, will undergo 17 cuts following controversy over its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots. The film’s production team confirmed that a revised version would be released in theatres next week.
Among the changes, scenes depicting violence against women and riots will be removed, the antagonist’s name—Baba Bajrangi—will be altered, and certain dialogues will be muted. Producer Gokulam Gopalan stated that while the film had passed the Censor Board’s scrutiny, the edits were being made to avoid offending certain groups. Actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran has reportedly agreed to the modifications.
Despite the controversy, L2 Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, has set box office records, becoming the first Malayalam film to cross ₹86 crore within two days of release. However, the film has sparked political debate, with BJP leaders expressing disappointment over its content.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he was disheartened by the film and would not watch it. “A movie should be viewed as entertainment, not history. Any film that distorts facts is bound to fail,” he remarked. Former Union Minister V Muraleedharan reiterated the BJP’s stance, while K Ganesh, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha’s state general secretary, called for an investigation into Prithviraj’s alleged “foreign connections” and claimed his films followed an “anti-national” narrative.
The RSS-affiliated publication Organiser criticized the film, calling it a “disturbing, divisive tale disguised as cinema.” Meanwhile, a section of social media users have condemned the film and its makers.
In contrast, the Congress has defended the film, accusing the BJP of intolerance. Party leaders pointed out that films like The Accidental Prime Minister and Emergency, which were critical of the Congress, were welcomed by the BJP. Kerala Minister V Sivankutty from the CPM stated that the 2002 Gujarat riots were an undeniable part of history, adding, “Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy. Any attempt to suppress it should be opposed.”
The post L2 Empuraan to Undergo 17 Cuts Amid Controversy Over Gujarat Riots References appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
