ED raids Gokulam Gopalan’s office and house in Chennai
A day after BJP MP and actor Suresh Gopi denied any “pressure” against the makers of L2: Empuraan, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the offices and residence of Gokulam Gopalan, one of producers of the film on Friday, April 4. Searches are underway at Gokulam Chit Funds headquarters located in Kodambakkam in Chennai. TNM confirmed that searches are also being carried out at the producer's residence in Neelankarai, Chennai. The raid is being conducted by the agency’s Kochi zone officials. However, the details of the search are still undisclosed. L2: Empuraan has triggered a major controversy for its depiction of communal violence, which closely resembles the 2002 Gujarat riots. Though the film carries a disclaimer stating that all events are fictional, right-wing Hindutva elements, including a section of Mohanlal’s fan base, have accused the filmmakers of vilifying the BJP and the RSS.Following the controversy the production house decided to edit certain scenes and even change the name of the antagonist of the movie. Previously the antagonist (played by Abhimanyu Singh), was named Balraj Patel, a perceived reference to Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi, who received life imprisonment for his role in the communal violence. The name now has been changed to Baldev, in the new version.The movie makers have made 24 voluntary cuts – a total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds. Meanwhile, on April 3, actor-turned MP Suresh Gopi told the Parliament that there was no censor pressure on the producers of L2: Empuraan. “I was the first person to call the producers and ask them to delete my name from the credits displayed at the beginning of the film. This is the truth,” Gopi said.Stating that the makers voluntarily made some edits, he said, “I am ready to take any punishment if this turns out to be false. It was the decision of the producers and the lead actor of the film, with the permission of the director of the film, to remove 17 portions from the movie. It was their decision. Yet, they are defaming my political party.”
A DAY after BJP MP and actor Suresh Gopi denied any “pressure” against the makers of L2: Empuraan, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the offices and residence of Gokulam Gopalan, one of the producers of the film, on Friday, April 4.
Searches are under way at Gokulam Chit Funds headquarters in Kodambakkam in Chennai. TNM confirmed that searches are also being conducted at the producer's residence in Neelankarai, Chennai. The raid is being conducted by the agency’s Kochi zone officials. However, the details of the search are still undisclosed.
L2: Empuraan has triggered a major controversy for its depiction of communal violence, which closely resembles the 2002 Gujarat riots. Though the film carries a disclaimer stating that all events are fictional, right-wing Hindutva elements, including a section of Mohanlal’s fan base, have accused the filmmakers of vilifying the BJP and the RSS.
Following the controversy, the production house decided to edit certain scenes and even change the name of the antagonist of the movie. Previously, the antagonist (played by Abhimanyu Singh), was named Balraj Patel, a perceived reference to Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi, who received life imprisonment for his role in the communal violence. The name has now been changed to Baldev, in the new version.
The movie makers have made 24 voluntary cuts – a total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds.
Meanwhile, on April 3, actor-turned MP Suresh Gopi told the Parliament that there was no censor pressure on the producers of L2: Empuraan.
“I was the first person to call the producers and ask them to delete my name from the credits displayed at the beginning of the film. This is the truth,” Gopi said.
Stating that the makers voluntarily made some edits, he said, “I am ready to take any punishment if this turns out to be false. It was the decision of the producers and the lead actor of the film, with the permission of the director of the film, to remove 17 portions from the movie. It was their decision. Yet, they are defaming my political party.”
