- Wednesday, April 02, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
The controversy surrounding L2: Empuraan has taken a personal turn, with actor Prithviraj Sukumaran’s mother, Mallika Sukumaran, stepping forward to defend her son against allegations of misleading superstar Mohanlal and the film’s producers. As the film faces criticism for its political and social themes, Mallika took to social media to express her disappointment over what she calls an unfair targeting of her son.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Mallika addressed the accusations that Prithviraj had misrepresented aspects of the film to Mohanlal and the production team. She dismissed these claims as baseless, asserting that all key stakeholders, including Mohanlal and the producers, were fully aware of every detail related to Empuraan.
“This is a mother’s pain. There is no point in making fun of me for speaking openly about it. Neither Mohanlal nor the producers have accused Prithviraj of misleading them, and I don’t think they ever will. Mohanlal has always spoken highly of my son. It is heartbreaking that people are trying to make my son a scapegoat,” she wrote.
She further emphasized that script discussions and revisions were a collaborative effort involving writer Murali Gopy and other key members of the team. “If there is any issue with Empuraan, everyone in this group is responsible. They all reviewed the script, witnessed the shooting, and approved the final version. How can Prithviraj be solely blamed when everything was finalized together?” she questioned.
As the backlash against the film intensified, Mohanlal also issued a public statement, acknowledging that certain political and social themes in L2: Empuraan had sparked distress among audiences. The veteran actor reassured fans that the team was taking corrective measures to address concerns.
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“I understand that some elements in Empuraan have upset many of my dear ones. As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that my films do not promote hatred toward any political ideology or religious group. The Empuraan team and I sincerely regret any distress caused, and we have collectively decided to remove such elements from the film,” Mohanlal stated in a Facebook post.
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Following the controversy, the film’s production team has confirmed that Empuraan will undergo revisions. Reports suggest that 17 scenes, including those depicting riots and violence against women, will be edited out to prevent further backlash.
Despite the controversy, L2: Empuraan has been a massive box office success. Released on March 27, the film became the first Malayalam movie to cross ₹80 crore worldwide in its opening weekend.
While the controversy continues to spark discussions among fans and critics, Mallika Sukumaran’s passionate defense of her son highlights the emotional toll that public scrutiny can take on artists and their families. With the announced changes, the filmmakers hope to put the debate to rest while maintaining the film’s strong box office momentum.
