L2: Empuraan is currently screening in theatres across India. The film is the second instalment in the trilogy action thriller film, Lucifer. The film was announced in June 2019 after the success of the prequel film and was originally planned for mid-2020. However, it faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the film has received immense love from the audience, certain scenes have sparked a controversy demanding that the film undergo re-censorship and the ‘offensive’ scenes about the Gujarat riots be removed.
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s mother reacts to the L2: Empuraan row
If the film is sent for re-censorship, L2: Empuraan will have to undergo 17 new cuts to remove the asked changes. Reacting to the buzz, director, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s mother, Mallika Sukumaran, took to her Facebook account and shared her views on the row. She expressed her disappointment over the criticism and claimed that his son was being made the ‘scapegoat’. She also shared her dismay about Prithviraj allegedly misleading superstar, Mohanlal and the film’s producers. She stated:
“This is a mother’s pain. There is no point in someone making fun of me for speaking openly about it. Neither Mohanlal nor the producers have said that Prithviraj cheated them. I don’t think they will ever say that. Mohanlal is like my younger brother. I have known Lal since childhood. Mohanlal has praised my son on many occasions. But it is very sad that some people are trying to make my son a scapegoat without the knowledge of Lal or the producers. Director Prithviraj has not cheated anyone associated with this film or any film. He will never do so.”
Mallika Sukumaran clarified that her son, Prithviraj Sukumaran, did not mislead anyone
Mallika Sukumaran further clarified that her son, Prithviraj, did not mislead anyone. She stated that the story’s narrative and tone were known by the entire team, including the writer, Murali Gopy and the film’s lead, Mohanlal. She revealed that the two were involved in the script revisions at all times, which made it hard to believe that they had no idea about the scenes. She stated:
“If you feel that there is any problem with the film Empuraan, then everyone in this group is responsible for it. They all read the script together. They all saw the scenes being shot together, and everyone agreed. If scenes needed to be edited during shooting, writer Murali Gopy was always willing to do so. How can Prithviraj be solely responsible for it when everything was finalized and the film was released? I want to make it clear that there is not a single shot in Empuraan that neither of them (Mohanlal or the producers) knew about. There is nothing in this film that Mohanlal does not know. Neither of them would say that they were unaware of anything in the film.”
The L2: Empuraan controversy and Mohanlal’s apology
The L2: Empuraan controversy arose from the film’s depiction of Gujarat’s riots. The film featured certain scenes which showed violence against Muslims by a mob of Hindu extremists. The antagonist, Baba Bajrangi, who is played by Abhimanyu Singh, is shown to be a hardliner who goes from rioter to politician. While Congress praised the group, some right-wing groups called the film agenda-driven and slammed it for distorting facts.
After the row broke loose, speculations started surfacing that the film’s lead, Mohanlal, was not aware of certain parts of the film. However, he issued an unconditional apology on March 30, 2025, and acknowledged the distress certain parts of the film had caused. He further reassured his fans that the team had decided to remove such references. The film’s team has announced a revision, which, according to reports, means 17 scenes, including those featuring riot sequences and depictions of violence against women, will be edited out.
What are your thoughts on Prithviraj Sukumaran’s mother defending her son?
Next Read: Rashmika Mandanna Spotted On Lunch Date With Rumoured BF Vijay Devarakonda Post ‘Sikandar’ Premiere
