Blog: Arguments In Favour Of Prithviraj And Team L2 Empuraan
The debate over L2: Empuraan and its response to political pressure has sparked intense discussion, with critics accusing the filmmakers of surrendering to right-wing intimidation. However, this view fails to acknowledge the bold risks the film’s team took in the first place. Rather than focusing solely on the post-release controversy, it is essential to recognise L2: Empuraan for what it is—an uncompromising political statement that stands out in an era of propaganda-driven cinema.
For years, the Indian film industry has seen an influx of right-wing propaganda films that align with the BJP’s ideological narratives—PM Narendra Modi, The Kerala Story, The Vaccine War, JNU, Article 370, and The Kashmir Files all passed through without facing the kind of scrutiny L2: Empuraan has endured. These films not only received state support but also benefited from political promotions and tax exemptions.
Here are some arguments in favour of the bold risk Prithviraj, Mohanlal, Murali Gopi and the producers of the movie took with the strong believe that they were truly aware of what they were doing with the now much talked about depiction of Gujarat riots and its beneficiaries:
Hit Exactly Where It Hurts
L2: Empuraan hit exactly where it hurt the Sangh Parivar, and the reaction was immediate. The uproar against the film proves that it touched upon a truth that the right-wing establishment would rather suppress. If the same critics calling out L2: Empuraan’s censorship had shown half as much concern over the one-sided political messaging in these earlier films, their arguments would hold more weight.
The Mere Existence of Empuraan is a Victory
In today’s political climate, simply getting a film like L2: Empuraan released, without state backing, is a challenge. The BJP and its affiliated groups have tightened their grip over every sector, including cinema. Murali Gopy, Prithviraj, and Mohanlal knew from the moment they started working on this film that it would invite controversy.
Consider this: when the character of Sayed Masood (played by Prithviraj) was introduced, the filmmakers could have chosen any other backstory. They could have depicted him as an orphan of a drug cartel conflict or even framed his origins within the usual Islamophobic narratives that have become commonplace in Indian cinema. Instead, they made a conscious choice to start his story with the 2002 Gujarat genocide—one of the most politically sensitive events in modern India.
This wasn’t a casual decision; it was a calculated and courageous one. Had they taken a safer route, L2: Empuraan would have sailed through without issue. The fact that the film made it to theatres with this storyline intact is an achievement in itself.
Mohanlal and Prithviraj Were Never Oblivious
To suggest that Mohanlal was unaware of the political weight of L2: Empuraan is naive. In the film industry, stars frequently demand changes to scripts to protect their personal and commercial interests. If Mohanlal wanted, he could have easily altered the storyline to avoid controversy. Yet, he chose not to.
Similarly, Prithviraj and Murali Gopy could have crafted L2: Empuraan as a neutral or pro-establishment film. Instead, they stood by a narrative that directly confronts the political realities of the past two decades. The minor compromises made after release should not erase the fact that they took a stand in the first place.
The Political Impact of the Film Was Already Achieved
By the time L2: Empuraan was forced to make cuts, it had already sold over two million tickets. The film’s message had reached a massive audience, and its depiction of the Gujarat riots had already sparked public discourse. Whether certain scenes were muted or altered after release does not change the fact that the film succeeded in drawing attention to its core themes.
In an environment where filmmakers are routinely silenced, L2: Empuraan dared to present a narrative that few others would even attempt. Even those directors who outwardly oppose right-wing politics rarely bring that stance into their films, fearing censorship and backlash. That L2: Empuraan made it to theatres at all, without diluting its initial vision, is a political statement in itself.
Condemning the Makers Helps the Real Censors
The true danger lies in framing L2: Empuraan as a failure of artistic courage while ignoring the structural intimidation that forced these post-release edits. By criticising Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and the filmmakers, the focus shifts away from the real perpetrators of censorship—the right-wing groups that actively seek to control artistic expression.
The reality is that L2: Empuraan had already won the moment it hit theatres with its original cut. In an era where the government systematically punishes dissent, the film’s release itself was an act of defiance. Mohanlal’s post-release statement, whether strategic or necessary for damage control, does not erase the risks that were taken to bring this story to the audience.
A Victory, Not a Surrender
To compare L2: Empuraan to Mersal without considering the vastly different political landscapes of 2017 and 2025 is misleading. Tamil Nadu’s film industry operates within a political framework that allows for greater resistance, whereas the right-wing ecosystem in India today has grown far more aggressive in targeting dissent.
If anything, L2: Empuraan should be recognised for daring to challenge that system in the first place. The film achieved what it set out to do—expose the past, question the present, and force a conversation. That, in itself, is a victory.
