April 1, 2025: Mohanlal’s highly anticipated film, L2: Empuraan, has come under intense scrutiny following a wave of political backlash. The Malayalam movie, which hit theaters on March 27, 2025, has faced widespread criticism from right-wing groups due to its depiction of sensitive themes related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. As a result, the filmmakers have made 24 voluntary cuts to the film, trimming a total of 2.08 minutes from the original version.
The re-edited version, which has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), is expected to be released in cinemas across India by April 2, 2025. The changes are believed to be a response to the growing controversy, particularly regarding the film’s portrayal of political and social tensions surrounding the Gujarat pogrom.
Among the key changes in the re-release is the renaming of the antagonist, Balraj, initially portrayed as Baba Bajrangi—a character whose name was seen as a reference to Babu Bajrangi, a convicted leader linked to the Bajrang Dal. This change, along with the alteration of the period from “India 2002” to a vague “a few years ago,” reflects the filmmakers’ efforts to distance the movie from direct political references.
Despite the controversy, L2: Empuraan has performed well at the box office, with ₹11 crore in earnings on its opening Monday, bringing its total domestic collection to ₹70 crore. However, the film’s momentum was slightly impacted by the political uproar, which led to calls for edits and a writ petition filed in the Kerala High Court seeking to halt screenings of the film due to concerns it could incite communal violence.
Voluntary Cuts and Edits in L2: Empuraan Following Criticism Over Gujarat Riot Depiction
In a bid to resolve the issue, Mohanlal expressed his regret over the distress caused by the film’s content. The actor, who is known for his carefully curated public image, posted an apology on his social media accounts, stating that the filmmakers had decided to remove certain elements that caused distress among fans. He clarified that the film was never intended to incite any hatred and that all members of the production team shared responsibility for the film’s content.
This development in L2: Empuraan’s journey through the Indian cinema landscape highlights the complexities of navigating political sensitivities in today’s media environment. As censorship laws continue to evolve, filmmakers face increasing pressure to balance their creative vision with the socio-political climate of their audience.
As the re-edited version of L2: Empuraan is set to hit theaters, it remains to be seen how the film’s reception will shift in the wake of these changes, and whether it can recover from the impact of the ongoing controversy.
