The ‘Empuraan’ Fallout: What Went Wrong? Film Critics Speak To News18
While many critics have dismissed the plot as dull and uninspiring, they also believe the controversy surrounding ‘Empuraan’ has overshadowed its cinematic merit. Even after lead actor Mohanlal issued an apology, the backlash refuses to die down
Did L2: Empuraan, meaning ‘Overlord’, overreach its creative limits? The much-hyped sequel to the 2019 Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer has found itself at the centre of a political storm. While many critics have dismissed the plot as dull and uninspiring, they also believe the controversy surrounding the film has overshadowed its cinematic merit. Even after lead actor Mohanlal issued an apology, the backlash refuses to die down.
With emotions running high and political narratives clashing, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has recommended 17 cuts, reportedly targeting riot sequences and portrayals of violence against women. This move follows intense opposition from Hindu organisations and nationalist groups, who claim the film maligns Hindutva and panders to “anti-national elements" through its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
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Renowned film critic and National Award winner M.K. Raghavendra believes that an unbiased portrayal of historical events is nearly impossible in today’s climate. “The past is being used and reconstructed by political ideologies to serve their separate purposes. Wherever the Hindu right wing is in power, that territory will produce biased Hindutva accounts, and states like Kerala will respond," he told News18.
Raghavendra argues that such conflicts will persist as long as they serve electoral interests. “If there were no electoral benefit in disharmony to political parties, only then would there be harmony—consequently, unbiased portrayals," he added.
Another film critic, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that films are made for specific audiences, and those who disagree have the choice not to watch. However, the critic also noted a shift in India’s creative landscape. “A film is a creative representation from the director’s perspective. India has historically allowed full freedom for creative thinking, but of late, things have changed."
Take, for example, films such as The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files, and Chhaava. The critic observed that films dealing with historical events often incorporate their own creative twists. “See this as another fictional take on a story," the critic remarked.
As protests intensified, Mohanlal took to Facebook to address the backlash. “I sincerely regret the mental distress caused to many I hold dear," he wrote, acknowledging that certain scenes had caused discomfort. The team has since decided to remove the contentious references.
Despite these changes, right-wing groups remain unconvinced. Accusing the film of distorting history, they have continued to press for further action. Meanwhile, film critic S. Shivakumar dismissed Empuraan as a major letdown, arguing that its controversy far outweighed its cinematic value.
“It’s a shoddily made film that gives a very wrong impression of Malayalam cinema in the name of pan-India. It is a poor film that does not do justice to the acting skills of Mohanlal. The film needed him; he did not need the film at all," Shivakumar told News18.
Shivakumar observed, “Somewhere, I felt Prithviraj was more influenced by the potboilers from neighbouring states that are currently doing well in Kerala."
“There should be the right kind of conversations brought about. I don’t know if this controversy was intentional—it looks to me like an unintentional spoof of what has happened. As a film, I felt it was a big letdown despite all the publicity and promotions that both Lal and Prithviraj undertook," he added.
Commenting on the audience that came to watch the film, Shivakumar noted a shift.
“Usually, those who come to watch Malayalam films are serious; they watch quietly, and their phones are typically silent or switched off. But this time, I saw people glancing at their phones, hooting, and making up a much younger crowd—mostly college-going students."
MOHANLAL’S APOLOGY: “I SINCERELY REGRET THE PAIN CAUSED"
As the controversy over Empuraan rages on, Mohanlal has issued a public apology, expressing regret over the distress caused by the film’s alleged references to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Right-wing groups, including the RSS, have accused the filmmakers of promoting an “anti-Hindu" and “anti-BJP" narrative.
Mohanlal took to Facebook to address the growing outrage, stating, “Certain political and social themes that have emerged in the making of Empuraan, which is the second part of Lucifer, have pained a large number of people who love me."
Acknowledging the concerns raised, he emphasised that, as an artist, he has a responsibility to ensure his films do not promote hostility towards any political movement, ideology, or religious sect.
“Therefore, I and the Empuraan team sincerely regret the mental pain caused to my loved ones," he wrote, adding that the production team had collectively decided to remove the contentious references. “With the realisation that the responsibility for it lies with all of us who worked behind the film, we have decided together to compulsorily remove such parts from the movie."
Reaffirming his deep connection with his audience, he said, “I have lived my cinematic life as one of you for the last four decades. Your love and faith are my only strength. I believe Mohanlal is not greater than that."
Director Prithviraj Sukumaran shared Mohanlal’s post, supporting the decision to edit out the controversial segments.
POLITICAL TURN
What began as a cinematic controversy over Empuraan has now escalated into a full-blown political battle.
While right-wing leaders have slammed the film for allegedly distorting history, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Opposition Congress have accused the BJP and RSS of censorship and intimidation.
Vijayan strongly defended the film, accusing the Sangh Parivar of forcing filmmakers to alter their work to suit its ideology.
“It has come out that the filmmakers were forced to edit the film under pressure. This atmosphere of fear created by the Sangh Parivar is worrying. It is not salubrious for democracy that communalists can destroy a work of art and maliciously attack artists on the grounds that they have taken a stand against communalism and depicted its horrors," he said in a Facebook post.
Vijayan did not hold back in criticising the BJP and RSS, claiming that their anger stemmed from the film’s reference to a “heinous genocide."
“The reference in the movie to one of the most heinous genocides in the country has left its masterminds, the Sangh Parivar, angry. Leaders of the BJP and RSS have been openly raising threats (against the movie)," he said.
The Chief Minister described these threats as a direct attack on democracy. “The freedom of expression of a citizen should be protected in a democratic society. Violent calls to destroy and ban artworks and artists are new manifestations of a fascist approach. That is a violation of democratic rights. The right to make films, watch them, enjoy them, evaluate them, agree or disagree should not be lost. For this, the voice of the country, which is rooted in democratic and secular values, must be raised together," he said.
Senior Congress MLA and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan echoed similar sentiments, criticising the Sangh Parivar for distorting history and selectively supporting free speech.
“The Sangh Parivar does not know much about history, and their habit has been to distort it. For them, freedom of expression only applies to works that align with their ideology. Their agenda is to celebrate such distorted narratives," he said.
He went on to describe the attacks on Empuraan as a sign of “cowardice."
“Film is the creation of a bunch of artists. Correcting the content of an artwork through threats and insults on social media is not a success. That is the indication of complete failure and cowardice. Let us not forget that no matter how much we try to cover up, historical truths will always stand out."
“A BIG SHAME" – MOHANDAS PAI
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai criticised Mohanlal for endorsing the film, calling it “a big shame" and dismissing it as “propaganda based on fake narratives."
BJP Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar had initially expressed enthusiasm for the sequel but later reversed his stance after learning about the film’s edits and re-censorship.
“I had watched Lucifer and liked it. I had said that I would watch Empuraan when I heard it was a sequel to Lucifer," Chandrasekhar wrote in a Facebook post. On the day of the film’s release, he had even extended his best wishes to Mohanlal and director Prithviraj Sukumaran.
He later stated: “Now I have come to know that the makers of the movie themselves have made 17 amendments and that the movie is undergoing re-censorship. I understand that there were topics in the movie that disturbed Mohanlal fans and other viewers. A movie should be watched as a movie. It can’t be seen as history. Also, any movie that tries to build a story by distorting the truth is doomed to fail. So, will I watch this sequel to Lucifer? No. Am I disappointed by this type of moviemaking? Yes." This was the response of the newly appointed Kerala BJP chief.
If that wasn’t enough, the BJP’s youth wing, Yuva Morcha, took the attack a step further. Its state general secretary, K. Ganesh, demanded a national probe into Prithviraj’s alleged “foreign ties." He accused the filmmaker of having links to extremist groups such as ISIS, citing his time in the Gulf during the filming of Aadujeevitham.
ANOTHER TWIST, MOTHER DEFENDS SON
Veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran, mother of actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, has strongly defended her son amid the L2: Empuraan controversy, accusing critics of trying to make him a “scapegoat." She also dismissed claims that superstar Mohanlal was unaware of certain scenes in the film that have triggered the major backlash.
Mallika Sukumaran firmly refuted suggestions that her son had deceived Mohanlal and the producers of L2: Empuraan, including Antony Perumbavoor.
In a Facebook post written in Malayalam, she accused certain groups of deliberately spreading this narrative and criticised sections of the media for amplifying it.
“Some people have deliberately spread the idea that Prithviraj cheated Mohanlal and the producers by taking up Empuraan, and some media outlets have now taken it up. Knowing what happened behind the scenes of this film, I am extremely hurt that some people are trying to isolate Prithviraj," she wrote.
She dismissed claims that Mohanlal and the producers were unaware of the controversial scenes, calling it an attempt to unfairly target her son. “It is very sad that some people are trying to make my son a scapegoat without the knowledge of Mohanlal or the producers. Prithviraj has not cheated anyone associated with any film—not just this one," she stated, adding that any issues with L2: Empuraan were a collective responsibility.
“They all read the script together. They all saw the scenes being shot together, and everyone approved of them. And now, after everything is done and the movie is released, how can Prithviraj alone be held responsible?" she asked.
She further emphasised that both Mohanlal and Antony Perumbavoor were fully aware of every scene in the film, stating that allegations suggesting they were kept in the dark are untrue.
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