- Monday, March 31, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
The much-anticipated Malayalam film L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has opened to packed theatres but has also sparked political controversy. The film, a sequel to Lucifer, features a sequence depicting the 2002 Gujarat riots, with one of the perpetrators emerging as the primary antagonist. This has led to a heated political debate, with right-wing factions criticizing the film, while Congress and Left parties have defended it.
The film’s political undertones have drawn mixed reactions. While some view it as a mass action thriller, others see it as a critique of right-wing politics. The depiction of the Gujarat riots in the film has intensified the controversy, with critics arguing that it pushes a particular political narrative.
On the opening day, right-wing groups, particularly Sangh Parivar members, took to social media to slam the film for its portrayal of Hindu nationalism. They alleged that Prithviraj Sukumaran had misled fans of Mohanlal by inserting such politically charged content. However, the film’s scriptwriter, Murali Gopy, dismissed the controversy, stating:
“I will keep total silence on the controversy. Let them fight it out. Everyone has the right to interpret the film in their way.”
Despite criticism from right-wing groups, the BJP state unit has distanced itself from the debate. BJP state general secretary P Sudheer clarified that the party would not be involved in any campaign against the film, saying:
“The film will go its way, and the party will do its work. The party will not be affected by any film. The Sangh Parivar activists have the right to express their views and let the audience decide whether it is good or bad.”
Meanwhile, Congress leaders in Kerala have extended support to the film. Rahul Mamkoottathil, Kerala State Youth Congress president and Palakkad MLA, praised Empuraan for its pan-Indian appeal and criticized those who were attacking the film’s creators. He pointed out the hypocrisy of those who had supported films like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, stating:
“The same people who advocated freedom of expression for films based on unfounded lies and religious hatred like Kashmir Files and Kerala Story, have now come out against Empuraan.”
The Congress state unit also took to X (formerly Twitter) to ridicule the critics, writing:
“People who never stepped foot in Kerala claimed their tax-free C-grade propaganda film was ‘the real Kerala story’… now a world-class Malayalam film exposes their true agenda, and they can’t handle it.”
The political uproar has not affected the film’s box office performance. L2: Empuraan has set new records in Malayalam cinema, collecting ₹24.50 crore in India and ₹67 crore worldwide on day 1. According to its producers, Aashirvaad Cinemas, the film has crossed ₹100 crore globally within two days, making it the fastest Malayalam film to achieve this milestone.
Despite ongoing debates, L2: Empuraan continues to dominate the box office, proving that political controversies may fuel more discussions but do not necessarily hinder a film’s commercial success.
