Suresh Gopi Responds To Controversy Over ‘L2 Empuraan’ Film Censorship In Rajya Sabha

April 4, 2025: In the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, a heated exchange occurred between CPI-M member John Brittas and Minister of State for Tourism, Suresh Gopi, regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the Malayalam film L2 Empuraan. The debate revolved around the removal of 17 portions from the film, and Gopi was quick to assert that there was no external pressure on the makers of L2 Empuraan to do so.

Gopi clarified that the decision to delete the scenes came directly from the film’s producers and lead actor, with the director’s consent. He added, “There was no censor pressure on the producers of Empuraan. I was the first person to call the producers and ask them to delete my name from the credits at the beginning of the film. This is the truth. I am ready to take any punishment if it is false.” Gopi also expressed frustration with the ongoing political circus and claimed that attempts to defame the BJP in this context were unjust.

The exchange turned more intense when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju intervened, claiming that Gopi responded after Brittas made disparaging remarks about him, stating that Gopi would not win the next election. Rijiju argued that Brittas had provoked Gopi.

Meanwhile, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva raised concerns over some of Gopi’s remarks, demanding that certain statements be expunged from the record.

Earlier, Gopi, a well-known actor-politician, had brushed off the controversy as a business-driven spectacle. He dismissed the uproar, saying it was all about “screwing up the psyche of the people and making money.”

The controversy surrounding L2 Empuraan also garnered significant attention from Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, who strongly condemned the Sangh Parivar’s campaigns against the film. The Chief Minister expressed that the Sangh Parivar’s objections stemmed from the film’s reference to one of India’s most brutal genocides, a subject that he argued had angered their leaders. He also criticized the calls to destroy or ban the film and its creators, pointing to the growing atmosphere of fear and communalism.

Mohanlal, the iconic actor who stars in the film, later issued a statement acknowledging that some aspects of L2 Empuraan had caused distress to certain viewers. In response, the film’s team decided to remove these references to ease tensions.

The ongoing debate and the film’s sensitive content reflect a larger cultural and political battle in Kerala over freedom of expression and the role of cinema in addressing historical and contemporary issues.