Vaiko Demands Ban On L2: Empuraan In Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Amid brewing controversy, MDMK general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, Vaiko on Tuesday (April 2) urged the Tamil Nadu government a complete ban on the Mohanlal starrer Empuraan in the State. The politician issued the statement alleging that the movie portrays Mullaperiyar Dam as unsafe and it instills unnecessary fear among the people.

In the statement, the Rajya Sabha MP said that the film introduces to a dam in Nedumpally and it directly alludes to the Mullaperiyar Dam issue. Politician argued that the movie wrongly communicate the message that the Travancore king was forced by the British to sign an agreement for lease of land for 999 years.

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“Dialogues in four places say even though the British have left and the king is gone, the dam is still there to destroy Kerala,” The Hindu quotes, as Vaiko is saying.

Rajya Sabha MP also said that another dialogue in the film was in favour of “bombing” the dam. “If we bomb the dam, which drowns people even when just two shutters are opened, the entire state of Kerala will be destroyed,” he said.

Vaiko said that the film has also neglected the safety of the check dams. “It is safe only if there is no dam,” MDMK leader quoted another dialogue.

Citing the ruling of the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee which affirmed the dam’s safety, Vaiko demanded that filmmakers should remove all these controversial scenes and dialogues, arguing it create fear among the people.

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Meanwhile, following the right-wing backlash, makers of the Empuraan have voluntarily deleted 24 scenes and the re-edited version reached theatres. Some of the changes include renaming the main villain and violent scenes featuring a pregnant woman.