24 scenes cut after Hindutva backlash over Gujarat riots depiction
The makers of L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, which became controversial over the depiction of 2002 Gujarat riots have made 24 cuts to the film. The deletions, which followed a massive campaign by Hindutva supporters against the film, have been approved by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).A total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds have been cut from the film, the longest single edit being a 29-second scene depicting violence against women. Other major changes include deletion of scenes which showed tractors and other vehicles passing through the front of religious structures. The CBFC had directed 17 changes to the film released on March 27 following the backlash. The riots shown in the film references the brutal violence against minorities that happened in Godhra in 2002. Empuraan makers had named one of the key figures involved in the riot as Balraj Patel, widely seen as a reference to Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi, who received life imprisonment for his role in the communal violence. The name Balraj Patel has been changed to Baldev, in the new version.Two thanks cards, one naming Union minister Suresh Gopi and another mentioning Jyothis Mohan, an IRS officer, have also been removed. Other deletions include conversations between Masood and Zayed Masood (played by Prithviraj). Around five edits specifically removed portrayals of violence against women. Mentions of Sangh Parivar politics, as well as references to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), were also removed from the film.Those who reacted against the film and its stars were mostly supporters of the right wing – especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). They were angry at the film’s ‘vilification’ of Hindus and the Sangh Parivar. Organiser, the mouthpiece of RSS, an article alleged that the film was purposefully designed to reinforce the image of Hindus as primary aggressors during the 2002 riots.
THE makers of L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, which became controversial over the depiction of 2002 Gujarat riots, have made 24 cuts to the film. The deletions, which followed a massive campaign by Hindutva supporters against the film, have been approved by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
A total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds have been cut from the film, the longest single edit being a 29-second scene depicting violence against women. Other major changes include deletion of scenes which showed tractors and other vehicles passing through the front of religious structures. The CBFC had directed 17 changes to the film released on March 27 following the backlash.
The riots shown in the film references the brutal violence against minorities that happened in Godhra in 2002. Empuraan makers had named one of the key figures involved in the riot as Balraj Patel, widely seen as a reference to Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi, who received life imprisonment for his role in the communal violence. The name Balraj Patel has been changed to Baldev in the new version.
Two thanks cards, one naming Union minister Suresh Gopi and another mentioning Jyothis Mohan, an IRS officer, have also been removed. Other deletions include conversations between Masood and Zayed Masood (played by Prithviraj).
Around five edits specifically removed portrayals of violence against women. Mentions of Sangh Parivar politics, as well as references to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), were also removed from the film.
Those who reacted against the film and its stars were mostly supporters of the right wing – especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). They were angry at the film’s ‘vilification’ of Hindus and the Sangh Parivar.
Organiser, the mouthpiece of RSS, an article alleged that the film was purposefully designed to reinforce the image of Hindus as primary aggressors during the 2002 riots.
