Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s latest film, L2: Empuraan, has been re-released in theatres with 24 voluntary edits following public backlash and political criticism.
The revised version hit theatres on Wednesday, just days after the film’s original release on March 27, reported India Today.
The film, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, is the much-anticipated sequel to 2019’s blockbuster Lucifer, and is the second part of a planned trilogy.
Empuraan explores the rise of Mohanlal’s character, Stephen Nedumpally, as he returns to clean up a corrupt political system in Kerala.
Despite its box office success – grossing over Rs200 crore globally within five days – the film stirred controversy for its references to real-life events and people, including the 2002 Gujarat riots and alleged allusions to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approved the re-censoring of the film, which saw 24 portions totalling two minutes and eight seconds either removed or altered, reported The Times of India.
Among the most notable changes is the renaming of the antagonist “Balraj” (also referred to as “Baba Bajrangi”) to “Baldev”. The original name was seen as a direct reference to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, who was convicted in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Additionally, the display card marking the film’s timeline as “2002-India” has been revised to the more vague “A few years ago”.
Scenes depicting graphic violence against women, visuals of bodies and a board showing “NIA” on a vehicle were also removed.
Other deleted elements include conversations between characters Zayed Masood and his father, and a “thanks” credit to Union Minister of State and actor Suresh Gopi.
One of the more contentious characters, Zayed Masood – played by Prithviraj himself – was criticised for his resemblance to terrorist Masood Azhar, the founder of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The right-wing publication Organiser accused the film of justifying terrorism as a response to communal violence, calling the narrative “dangerous” and “divisive”.
The film’s producers maintain that the decision to make cuts was voluntary. “We did not do this under any pressure,” said producer Antony Perumbavoor on Tuesday. “If anyone feels offended, it is our responsibility to make corrections. We are not here to hurt sentiments.”
He also denied reports of internal disagreement among the filmmakers and defended Mohanlal’s involvement, stating that the actor was fully aware of the film’s script and content.
This was in response to claims by actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Major Ravi, who alleged that Mohanlal had not reviewed the film thoroughly before its release.
Despite the cuts, Empuraan continues to perform strongly at the box office, setting records for a Malayalam-language film both in India and overseas. Its success comes despite mixed critical reviews.
The Hindustan Times described it as a film “grappling with an identity crisis,” while The Indian Express praised Mohanlal’s performance but criticised the film for lacking the emotional depth of its predecessor.
The political backlash, primarily from BJP and right-wing groups, led to a wider debate about freedom of artistic expression. While some BJP leaders insisted that no official campaign was mounted against the film, the sharp reactions on social media and in media outlets like Organiser indicate widespread disapproval in certain circles.
Nonetheless, political leaders from Kerala, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, voiced their support for the film and condemned the attacks against it.
With the updated version now in theatres, the filmmakers are looking ahead to the third and final installment of the Lucifer trilogy. “We will definitely go ahead with the next film,” confirmed Perumbavoor.
