PremiumEmpuraan slashed with over 17 cuts, Mohanlal-Prithviraj Sukumaran film makes 'voluntary modifications' after right-wing ire
As the issue snowballed into a huge controversy, the Empuraan makers have gone into damage-control mode and are making over 17 cuts.
Last Updated: 09.03 PM, Mar 29, 2025
Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, will be making over 17 cuts, various Malayalam media channels have reported. The producers are removing certain riot portions and the violence against women, as per a report on Manorama News. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest update on Empuraan, which has earned the ire of the right-wing parties.
Empuraan undergoes ‘cuts’ after right-wing groups oppose
Soon after the first show of Empuraan got over on March 27, 2025, social media was divided over certain violent and riot portions from the film, with the right-wing groups taking strong objection to Prithviraj Sukumaran’s movie. As the issue snowballed into a huge controversy, the L2E makers have gone into damage-control mode.
As many as 17 modifications are reportedly being made to the film, which has been penned by Murali Gopy. The current changes are being made to the scenes depicting the assault on a woman and the riot portions. Also, the name of the villain's character, Balraj aka Baba Bajrangi, will be changed. Abhimanyu Singh had played the villainous role.
The version with the ‘voluntary modifications’ is currently under the scrutiny of the Board, the Manorama News report said. The edited version will be released in cinemas next week. Till then, the current version will be played at theatres.
The right-wing parties had taken a strong objection to the depiction of riot scenes from Gujarat in the film. The RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, too had published an article, raising allegations against the writer and director. Questions were also raised as to how the film received the clearance from the Censor Board in the first place.
When the film was submitted for certification prior to the release, the Central Board of Film Certification had sought only two cuts of 10-second duration in total. These were related to violence against women and the National Flag.
Gokulam Gopalan on Empuraan row
Gokulam Gopalan, who came on board as a producer of the film recently, also said that he has asked Prithviraj to make changes after allegations were raised that the Lucifer sequel hurt the sentiments of a certain section of the audience.