Gujrat Riots related Cuts In L2 Empuraan Spark Row, Mohanlal apologises

Malayalam movie L2 Empuraan, which hit theatres on Thursday, will undergo 17 cuts amid the controversy over its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots, the film's production team has confirmed. The new version will be released in theatres next week. Some scenes depicting violence against women and riots would be cut, the name of the antagonist Baba Bajrangi would be changed and certain dialogues will be muted, it is learnt.

Actor Mohanlal has released a statement over the ongoing row over his film L2: Empuraan. The Malayalam star has apologised for causing "distress" to the viewers. "I know that some of the political and social themes that have been introduced in the making of the film 'Empuraan', the second part of the 'Lucifer' franchise, have caused great distress to many of my loved ones. As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films are hostile to any political movement, ideology, or religious sect. Therefore, the Empuraan team and I are sincerely sorry for the distress caused to my loved ones,” read a section of the statement. 

Gokulam Gopalan, the producer, had earlier said the film had cleared the Censor and that the cuts were being made so that the sentiments of a section of people would not be hurt. The director, actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, has reportedly agreed to the cuts.

The controversy intensified after some Hindu organizations in Kerala accused the film of misrepresenting their faith. The backlash triggered online campaigns and calls for a boycott. In response, the filmmakers approached the CBFC and initiated a conciliatory revision process.

However, Political reactions were mixed. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan attended a screening of the film in the state and supported the Empuraan team in the discussion, stating that freedom of expression must be protected at all costs. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty questioned the need for cuts, stating that real historical events like the Gujarat riots have a rightful place in cinematic storytelling. On the other hand, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized the film for presenting what he called a “distorted and one-sided narrative" and pledged to boycott it.

Despite the uproar, L2: Empuraan has made a strong impact at the box office, earning over ₹45 crore in just three days since its March 27 release. Starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the political action thriller continues to draw crowds—now with a revised version on the way.