As the controversy surrounding ‘L2: Empuraan’ intensifies, filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran finds support from his mother, veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran. Amid growing criticism and claims that he misled superstar Mohanlal and the film's producers, Mallika has defended her son, stating that certain factions are unfairly targeting him.
Taking to Facebook on Sunday, Mallika expressed her disappointment over the backlash Prithviraj has been facing, particularly accusations that he manipulated the film’s narrative without Mohanlal’s knowledge.
What Mallika Sukumaran said
“This is a mother's pain. There is no point in someone making fun of me for speaking openly about it. Neither Mohanlal nor the producers have said that Prithviraj cheated them. I don't think they will ever say that. Mohanlal is like my younger brother. I have known Lal since childhood. Mohanlal has praised my son on many occasions. But it is very sad that some people are trying to make my son a scapegoat without the knowledge of Lal or the producers. Director Prithviraj has not cheated anyone associated with this film or any film. He will never do so,” she wrote.
Clarifying her stance, Mallika reiterated that Prithviraj had not concealed any details about the film from anyone. She pointed out that the film's screenplay and direction were a collaborative effort involving the entire team, including writer Murali Gopy and Mohanlal, who were actively engaged in script revisions and creative discussions throughout the process.
“If you feel that there is any problem with the film Empuraan, then everyone in this group is responsible for it. They all read the script together. They all saw the scenes being shot together, and everyone agreed. If scenes needed to be edited during shooting, writer Murali Gopy was always willing to do so... then how can Prithviraj be solely responsible for it when everything was finalized and the film was released?” she questioned.
Mallika further asserted that every aspect of the film was made with the knowledge and approval of both Mohanlal and the production team. “I want to make it clear that there is not a single shot in Empuraan that neither of them (Mohanlal or the producers) knew about. There is nothing in this film that Mohanlal does not know. Neither of them would say that they were unaware of anything in the film,” she added.
L2 Empuraan controversy
The controversy erupted over the film's depiction of the Gujarat riots, particularly scenes portraying violence against Muslims by a Hindu extremist mob. The film’s antagonist, Baba Bajrangi (played by Abhimanyu Singh), is depicted as a hardline figure who transitions from rioter to politician. While right-wing groups have criticised the film for being agenda-driven and distorting history, the Congress party has praised its narrative.
Mohanlal's apology, 17 scenes to be cut
Speculation regarding Mohanlal's awareness of certain film elements grew after the actor publicly issued an apology for the controversial sequences. In his statement, Mohanlal acknowledged that some portions of the film had caused distress to his fans and assured them that the team had decided to remove the contentious content. Read the full story here
In response to the ongoing backlash, the makers of Empuraan have announced that the film will undergo re-censorship, with 17 scenes set to be edited out. These include riot sequences and scenes depicting violence against women.
Despite the uproar, 'L2: Empuraan' continues its strong run at the box office. Released on March 27, the film has shattered records, becoming the fastest Malayalam movie to cross the ₹100 crore mark worldwide. It is now edging closer to ₹150 crore, solidifying its commercial success despite the ongoing debate surrounding its content.