Empuraan’s portrayal of Gujarat riots leaves right-wingers angry with Mohanlal, Prithviraj
After the first few shows of L2: Empuraan, part two of actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran’s ambitious trilogy of movies featuring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, word got out that the film explicitly depicts the horrors of the 2002 Gujarat riots. This did not go down well with supporters of the Sangh Parivar. Many right wing sympathisers, including fans of Mohanlal, turned against the movie and its makers, condemning them online—Mohanlal for acting in and producing the film, Prithviraj for directing it, and actor-writer Murali Gopy for writing it. Prithviraj, a star himself, turned director with Lucifer, the first part in the series which came out in 2019. He had teamed up with another actor of repute, Murali Gopy, who took on the role of writer. Both the films featured a star-studded cast, including notable actors such as Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, and Indrajith Sukumaran from Kerala, along with big names from other parts of India and even several international actors. Though there were a section of critics that panned Lucifer, it quickly became a celebrated ‘mass’ film among the fans. Mohanlal’s character was introduced as a mysterious character with multiple avatars—a son-like figure to a major politician in Kerala, and a powerful don-like figure abroad. The film touched upon local politics and made villains out of drug dealers and abusers. It had all the elements of a commercial thriller, packed with the right dose of punchlines, stunts, and comebacks that would appeal to a typical fan of the genre. So six years later, when Empuraan was announced, audiences expected more of the same, with new actors brought in to add surprises. However, when the film was released, most of the attention went to the politics of the film, which chose to portray the violence of Godhra without holding back. The film also notably depicts a character who left a secular party, to align with a Hindutva party, in a starkly negative light. Sangh supporters among the viewers went berserk. Rarely has a major Indian film dared to depict the horrors of the Gujarat riots—especially in a manner that explicitly holds the Hindutva right wing accountable. One particular thread posted from the handle of ‘Abhiijth Radhakrishnan Nair’, bemoaning Mohanlal’s choice to work in the film, has been doing the rounds. Identifying himself as a Hindu and a worshipper of Mohanlal’s art, Abhijith detailed the plot and judged it as a vilification of Hindus and a slander of his trusted leaders like Narendra Modi, the most prominent face of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling the country. Abhijith tagged Mohanlal multiple times, complaining and questioning how his beloved star could be involved in such a film, and pledging that this would be the last Mohanlal movie he watched. His post drew widespread support from many Hindutva sympathisers, appreciating his outburst. The Day My Heart Broke at the TheatreI’ve always called myself a hardcore @Mohanlal fan. Not just a fan an admirer, a worshipper of his art, his screen presence, his humility. His films have been my escape, my joy, and my pride as a Malayali and as a Hindu. pic.twitter.com/nYoRkJLLHZ— Abhijith Radhakrishnan Nair (@abhijithnair01) March 27, 2025 A number of handles also tagged the Prime Minister’s and Home Minister’s Offices, accusing Mohanlal of starring in a “propaganda film” that defames India’s top investigative agencies, and portrays the “Home Minister as a rioter.” Amit Shah, arguably the second most prominent face of the BJP, currently holds the position of India’s Home Minister. Suggesting that the superstar was ungrateful, the critiquing handles alleged that this was how Mohanlal was “repaying” the nation after being awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army. Notably, it was in 2009 that Mohanlal was awarded the rank, when the BJP had not yet come into power. Interestingly, similar responses were also found below a post of the BJP’s new party president in Kerala, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, after he wished Mohanlal and Prithviraj the best for their film. On the morning of March 27, the day of the film’s release, he wrote that he was looking forward to watching and enjoying it. Within hours, he received thousands of comments, many of them blasting him for his friendly words to the team that, in their view, had made an anti-BJP film. One commenter told Rajeev to go back to Bengaluru, the constituency he previously represented, and not come back to Kerala. Meanwhile, the social media pages of Mohanlal and Prithviraj are filled with mixed reactions, including a great deal of positive feedback, alongside comments like Abhijith’s, which question the film’s narrative. L2: Empuraan review: Mohanlal-Prithviraj film is more about style and less about story
AFTER the first few shows of L2: Empuraan, part two of actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran’s ambitious trilogy of movies featuring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, word got out that the film explicitly depicts the horrors of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
This did not go down well with supporters of the Sangh Parivar. Many right wing sympathisers, including fans of Mohanlal, turned against the movie and its makers, condemning them online—Mohanlal for acting in and producing the film, Prithviraj for directing it, and actor-writer Murali Gopy for writing it.
Prithviraj, a star himself, turned director with Lucifer, the first part in the series which came out in 2019. He had teamed up with another actor of repute, Murali Gopy, who took on the role of writer. Both the films featured a star-studded cast, including notable actors such as Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, and Indrajith Sukumaran from Kerala, along with big names from other parts of India and even several international actors.
Though there were a section of critics that panned Lucifer, it quickly became a celebrated ‘mass’ film among the fans. Mohanlal’s character was introduced as a mysterious character with multiple avatars—a son-like figure to a major politician in Kerala, and a powerful don-like figure abroad.
The film touched upon local politics and made villains out of drug dealers and abusers. It had all the elements of a commercial thriller, packed with the right dose of punchlines, stunts, and comebacks that would appeal to a typical fan of the genre. So six years later, when Empuraan was announced, audiences expected more of the same, with new actors brought in to add surprises.
However, when the film was released, most of the attention went to the politics of the film, which chose to portray the violence of Godhra without holding back. The film also notably depicts a character who left a secular party, to align with a Hindutva party, in a starkly negative light.
Sangh supporters among the viewers went berserk. Rarely has a major Indian film dared to depict the horrors of the Gujarat riots—especially in a manner that explicitly holds the Hindutva right wing accountable.
One particular thread posted from the handle of ‘Abhiijth Radhakrishnan Nair’, bemoaning Mohanlal’s choice to work in the film, has been doing the rounds. Identifying himself as a Hindu and a worshipper of Mohanlal’s art, Abhijith detailed the plot and judged it as a vilification of Hindus and a slander of his trusted leaders like Narendra Modi, the most prominent face of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling the country.
Abhijith tagged Mohanlal multiple times, complaining and questioning how his beloved star could be involved in such a film, and pledging that this would be the last Mohanlal movie he watched. His post drew widespread support from many Hindutva sympathisers, appreciating his outburst.
The Day My Heart Broke at the Theatre
I’ve always called myself a hardcore @Mohanlal fan. Not just a fan an admirer, a worshipper of his art, his screen presence, his humility. His films have been my escape, my joy, and my pride as a Malayali and as a Hindu. pic.twitter.com/nYoRkJLLHZ — Abhijith Radhakrishnan Nair (@abhijithnair01) March 27, 2025
A number of handles also tagged the Prime Minister’s and Home Minister’s Offices, accusing Mohanlal of starring in a “propaganda film” that defames India’s top investigative agencies, and portrays the “Home Minister as a rioter.”
Amit Shah, arguably the second most prominent face of the BJP, currently holds the position of India’s Home Minister. Suggesting that the superstar was ungrateful, the critiquing handles alleged that this was how Mohanlal was “repaying” the nation after being awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.
Notably, it was in 2009 that Mohanlal was awarded the rank, when the BJP had not yet come into power.
Interestingly, similar responses were also found below a post of the BJP’s new party president in Kerala, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, after he wished Mohanlal and Prithviraj the best for their film.
On the morning of March 27, the day of the film’s release, he wrote that he was looking forward to watching and enjoying it. Within hours, he received thousands of comments, many of them blasting him for his friendly words to the team that, in their view, had made an anti-BJP film. One commenter told Rajeev to go back to Bengaluru, the constituency he previously represented, and not come back to Kerala.
Meanwhile, the social media pages of Mohanlal and Prithviraj are filled with mixed reactions, including a great deal of positive feedback, alongside comments like Abhijith’s, which question the film’s narrative.
