Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Empuraan: “Movie Is a Movie…”
The newly-appointed Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has dismissed the controversy surrounding L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, as a politically motivated issue. Speaking about the backlash, he said controversies were being manufactured by the Congress and the INDIA alliance because they had nothing positive to say. He added that the BJP’s position remained that a movie was just a movie, and that everyone had the right to watch, criticise, or praise it.
The Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial has sparked heated debates, primarily due to its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Naroda Patiya massacre. Right-wing groups, including Sangh Parivar leaders and Hindutva-aligned social media handles, launched a campaign against the film, accusing it of pushing an anti-Hindu agenda. The backlash reportedly forced the filmmakers to implement 17 cuts, mute certain dialogues, and rename the antagonist, Baba Bajrangi.
“I don’t know how this is a controversy, but controversies are manufactured by the Congress and the INDI alliance because they have really nothing positive to say. Our party’s position has been that a movie is a movie, we don’t consider anything more or less than a movie. Everybody has the right to watch it, criticise it and say good things about the movie. That is what movies are about…,” Chandrashekhar said.
Reports suggest that the film’s producers, led by Gokulam Gopalan, requested Prithviraj to modify the film following intense criticism. The edits, including the removal of politically sensitive references, are expected to be completed soon. However, the uncut version of the film continues its theatrical run for now.
The controversy erupted when Hindu right-wing groups expressed outrage over the film’s depiction of a character named Baba Bajrangi, portrayed by Abhimanyu Singh. The character, a Hindu nationalist politician involved in communal violence, bears a striking resemblance to Babu Bajrangi, a Bajrang Dal leader convicted for his role in the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre. The film shows him orchestrating riots and targeting a Muslim family—parallels that many viewers have linked to real-life events.
The film’s portrayal of Bajrangi as a powerful political figure attempting to expand his party’s influence in Kerala has further angered BJP supporters. Despite Mohanlal’s known connections with the RSS and BJP, his decision to star in a film with such themes has surprised many within right-wing circles.
Right-wing groups have launched a widespread online hate campaign against the film, calling for its boycott. This has included mass ticket cancellations, despite the film setting records for Malayalam cinema. It became the first Malayalam film to sell over one million advance tickets on BookMyShow and reportedly grossed Rs 100 crore within two days of release.
Amid the controversy, BJP’s youth wing, Yuva Morcha, accused director Prithviraj of having links with international terrorist organisations, while the RSS mouthpiece Organiser claimed the film was spreading an anti-Hindu political agenda. Some right-wing viewers have also expressed personal disappointment, with one X user writing that they had always admired Mohanlal, but the film felt like an ideological attack painting Hindus as savages. They added that it would be the last Mohanlal movie they ever watched.
The controversy largely stems from a subplot involving the character Zayed Masood, a mercenary who aligns with the protagonist after surviving a 2002 riot. The film portrays Bajrangi and his associates as responsible for the massacre of Zayed’s family, including scenes reminiscent of real-life crimes. Bajrangi is also depicted as threatening to destroy a dam, endangering millions in Kerala.
The film’s political undertones have drawn comparisons to writer Murali Gopy’s earlier work, Left, Right, Left, which was previously accused of favouring the RSS. Now, L2: Empuraan has been criticised for allegedly attacking the BJP and Hindu nationalism.
In response to the controversy, the producers have voluntarily submitted a revised version for recertification by the Central Board of Film Certification. The new version is expected to hit theatres next week, but the original version continues to screen for now.
