March 31, 2025: The release of the highly anticipated Malayalam film L2: Empuraan has sparked a heated political debate across Kerala, with both BJP and Left leaders offering their views on the movie’s content and the controversies surrounding it.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Kerala BJP President, recently shared his thoughts on the film and its prequel Lucifer. Although he has not yet watched Empuraan, Chandrasekhar expressed his admiration for the first film, calling Lucifer a “very good thriller.” He also highlighted that, despite the movie’s commercial success, he believes that films should not be over-analyzed, either positively or negatively.
Chandrasekhar said, “I have not seen the movie, I have seen the prequel Lucifer, that was a very good movie. It was a thriller, I enjoyed the movie. I am a big fan of Mohanlal. However, a movie is not history, and everyone has the right to criticize, like, or dislike a film.” He acknowledged the ongoing criticism of Empuraan but emphasized that it was the audience’s prerogative to form opinions, and no one should read too much into it.
Despite the controversies, he announced that he would not watch the film due to the issues surrounding it and added that it was “sad” to see Mohanlal associated with a movie that was embroiled in such debates. However, Chandrasekhar clarified that those who enjoyed the film, including Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had every right to do so.
Pinarayi Vijayan, on the other hand, took a strong stand in support of Empuraan, particularly in light of the backlash. After watching the film, Vijayan accused the Sangh Parivar of fueling hate campaigns targeting the film due to its references to a significant historical genocide. The Chief Minister condemned these campaigns, calling them “fascist” and emphasizing the importance of protecting the freedom of expression in a democratic society.
“The film references one of the most brutal genocides the country has ever seen, which has angered the Sangh Parivar,” Vijayan wrote in a Facebook post, further criticizing the political group’s attempts to suppress art and free speech. He strongly condemned the violent calls to ban or destroy the film, calling them a violation of democratic rights.
Congress leader VD Satheesan also weighed in, accusing the Sangh Parivar of distorting history. He added that any attempt to censor or distort artistic work through threats was a “radical failure” and an attack on freedom of expression.
Despite the widespread controversy, Empuraan has achieved significant commercial success. The film broke records by grossing Rs 80 crore worldwide on its opening weekend. In response to the backlash, the film’s production team announced plans to revise certain scenes, including depictions of violence, and submit the movie for re-censorship. Mohanlal, the lead actor, also addressed the issue, expressing his regret for causing distress and promising that the offensive content would be removed.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the ongoing political discourse will affect the film’s future and its reception by audiences across Kerala and beyond.