Who Are The Politicians Backing Empuraan Amid Censorship Controversy?

The Malayalam film L2: Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and starring Mohanlal, has become the center of a massive political storm.

 The film’s portrayal of politically sensitive issues, particularly references to the 2002 Gujarat riots, has drawn criticism and even threats from right-wing groups and political leaders.

But what is it that makes this film so controversial, and why are so many political figures now voicing support for it?

The Controversy: What Sparked the Backlash?

Released on March 27, 2025, L2: Empuraan became an instant hit but also stirred intense reactions from certain political factions.

The movie’s depiction of the 2002 Gujarat riots and its sensitive political themes angered Hindutva groups, including the BJP and RSS, who accused the film of spreading an “anti-national” narrative.

The backlash quickly turned into a full-blown communal campaign against the film, with calls for its boycott and even a demand to censor certain scenes deemed controversial. These included riot sequences and depictions of violence, particularly involving women.

In response to the criticism, the film’s team, including lead actor Mohanlal, expressed regret and decided to remove certain scenes in order to address the concerns of their fans.

However, the controversy continued to grow, with accusations that the right-wing groups were using political pressure to undermine artistic freedom and suppress opposing viewpoints.

Political Leaders Stand in Solidarity with the Film

Amid the growing criticism, several prominent political figures have rallied in defense of Empuraan, emphasising the importance of protecting freedom of expression and artistic liberty.

Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was one of the first leaders to speak out against the communal campaign targeting the film.

In a strongly worded social media post, Vijayan condemned the Sangh Parivar’s actions, calling the attacks on the film and its creators “deeply disturbing.”

He accused these forces of using fear and intimidation to silence dissent and suppress creative freedom, which, he argued, was a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.

Pinarayi Vijayan further expressed concern that such efforts to censor films threatened the very core of democracy.

He also stressed that freedom of expression was a fundamental right that should be defended by all, and that artists must not be silenced by political agendas that sought to control narratives.

CPI(M) leader and Member of Parliament John Brittas also voiced his support for L2: Empuraan. Brittas criticised the BJP for trying to suppress the film because of its political message, claiming that the ruling party was afraid the film’s popularity would harm its prospects in Kerala.

Also, read| “Criticism Shouldn’t Turn Into Abuse”: FEFKA On Prithviraj And Mohanlal’s ‘Empuraan’

He argued that the attacks on the film were an attempt to control public opinion and silence any opposition, particularly as the BJP’s influence in the state continued to grow.

Brittas also emphasised that the people of Kerala would not tolerate attempts to manipulate the political landscape through such divisive campaigns.

Similarly, CPI(M) leader M Swaraj took to Facebook to express his disapproval of the BJP’s attempts to censor the film.

Swaraj slammed the ruling party’s use of cyber-attacks and threats to intimidate filmmakers and artists into conforming to their political narrative. He wrote: “When lies govern this country, the truth will be censored.”

Congress leader K Muraleedharan, made a sarcastic comment about the situation. He joked that the film would likely be released in two versions: one edited for the RSS and another for the general public. His remark was a playful critique of the BJP’s efforts to influence and control the content of the film.

Also, read| Kerala Politicians Rally Behind Empuraan As Right Wing Attacks Mohanlal’s Political Thriller

Many leaders, especially those from Kerala, have come out in strong support of the filmmakers, arguing that the attacks on Empuraan are part of a larger effort to stifle dissent and control public discourse.

Despite the support from various political leaders, Kerala BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan criticised L2: Empuraan director and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, even launching an attack on his wife.

He further stated, “The BJP in Kerala has one message for Sukumaran: to control his daughter-in-law, as she is an Urban Naxal.”