Empuraan Shows Now With Re-Censored Print – You Won’t See These Scenes In India
L2: Empuraan, the highly-anticipated sequel in the Lucifer franchise directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and starring Mohanlal, has undergone a quiet but significant transformation following pressure from right-wing groups. The film, originally cleared with a UA 16+ certificate on 6 March 2025 (Certificate No. DIL/7/17/2025-THI), has now returned to theatres with a re-censored version—featuring over 20 voluntary deletions and alterations initiated by the filmmakers themselves under Rule 33 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules.
The changes came after outrage from fringe right-wing groups and some BJP leaders over the film’s references to a communal riot resembling the 2002 Gujarat violence and depictions of Muslim characters being killed on screen. While the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not recall the film on its own, the filmmakers, as per reports, submitted a revised cut, possibly to avoid further political controversy and protest. In a related development, the office of one of its producers, Gokulam Gopalan, was raided by Enforcement Directorate today.
Among the most critical edits were the deletion of a title card that originally referenced a specific period—now replaced with the vaguer phrase “A FEW YEARS AGO.” Violent scenes, including the killing of a Muslim man named Mohzin, were trimmed or removed entirely. Other graphic depictions of violence, especially against women, were cut across several points in the film.
Visuals of vehicles and tractors passing in front of religious structures have also been removed from multiple scenes, along with the deletion of religious iconography and a muted reference to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Conversations that were seen as politically sensitive—including those between characters like Masood and Zayed Masood—were trimmed, as were several appearances of characters named Balraj and Belraj, who viewers speculated might have been loosely based on political figures.
In total, the following key edits were made:
- Removed “Thanks” cards for Suresh Gopi and Jyothis Mohan IRS.
- Replaced time reference card with “A FEW YEARS AGO.”
- Deleted scenes showing:
– The killing of Mohzin.
– Vehicles and tractors near religious structures.
– Multiple acts of violence against women.
– Violence and dead bodies strewn across streets.
– Graphic imagery involving characters like Balraj, Belraj, and Peethambaran. - Muted the word “NIA” in a conversation.
- Trimmed dialogue involving Belraj and Munna.
- Removed or replaced references to a character named Belraj, later changed to “Baldev” in both dialogue and newspaper headlines shown in the film.
- Altered TV news footage.
- Removed a name board from a vehicle.
- Edited visuals across reels between the 125-minute and 177-minute marks to further tone down potentially provocative content.
While these changes now define the theatrical version playing across screens in India, some fans have already begun comparing scenes with the original version, calling out what they perceive as “creative compromise.” Despite the edits, the film has continued to perform well at the box office and fuel discussions online.
The silent nature of the re-censorship process has also reignited concerns about self-censorship and the growing influence of political pressure on India’s film industry. A few industry voices have come out cautiously, suggesting that such moves set a precedent where film narratives might be shaped not just by artistic vision or legal frameworks, but by ideological intimidation.
Neither the filmmakers nor the CBFC has issued a public statement explaining the reasoning behind the revised cut. However, the re-certification note clearly lists these changes as voluntary, distancing the board from issuing any formal recall. Whether these changes will extend to the film’s OTT or international versions remains to be seen.
For now, audiences heading to the cinema will be watching Empuraan not as it was first made, but as it has been politically trimmed and retold.
Meanwhile the UK distributor of the movie RFT Films said: “No cuts in Empuraan for the UK release! There will be no cuts in Empuraan. However, we are working on a separate, family-friendly version specifically for our family audience. Please note that this version will not be the same as the one edited for Indian release.”
