The makers of L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, which has been subjected to a hate campaign by Hindutva groups over its depiction of the 2002 Gujarat Muslim genocide, have made 24 cuts to the film, which is already in theaters and has collected over ₹200 crore in just five days.
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 Muslim women by right-wing Hindu men.
Other major changes include the deletion of scenes showing tractors and other vehicles used by Hindutva rioters passing in front of Hindu temples.
The scenes naming the National Investigation Agency, which targets political opponents in the film, were muted.
The deletions include conversations between Zayed Masood (played by Prithviraj) and his father, Masood. In this scene, Masood says to Zayed Masood when the Hindutva rioters were on their way to attack: “If you feel fear, just recite ‘Hasbunallah wa ni’mal-Wakil.’” The meaning of this Dua is: “Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.”
The name Baba Bajrangi (real-life Gujarat genocide convict and VHP leader Babu Bajrangi) 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.
The most hyped Malayalam film ever has sparked fierce hate campaigns from Hindu right-wing handles, who find its perceived political undertones difficult to digest.
Upset over the film’s portrayal of incidents—including the 2002 Gujarat Muslim Genocide (though not named), Hindutva forces’ attempts to gain a foothold in Kerala, and the misuse of government agencies to silence opponents—Hindutva groups have launched a hate campaign against Empuraan.
This includes mass ticket cancellations of the movie, which has set a new record for Malayalam cinema, becoming the first film in the industry to sell over 1 million advance tickets on the online ticketing platform BookMyShow.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece Organiser criticised the Malayalam film and accused it of using the backdrop of the 2002 Gujarat genocide to push an “anti-Hindu political agenda.” It also stated that Prithviraj was a deeply polarising figure.
Many, including the BJP state leadership in Kerala, launched a fresh hate campaign against Prithviraj, claiming that he has links with international terrorist groups.
The movie L2: Empuraan features a character named Baba Bajrangi, portrayed by Abhimanyu Singh, who has sparked discussion about possible real-life inspirations. Babu Bajrangi, whose real name is Babubhai Patel, was a Bajrang Dal leader convicted for his role in the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre during the Gujarat genocide.
In Empuraan, Baba Bajrangi is depicted as a Hindu nationalist politician involved in communal violence in 2002, which bears similarities to the Gujarat genocide. The character leads a mob responsible for significant bloodshed, including a subplot involving the massacre of a Muslim family, which many viewers link to the real-life events Babu Bajrangi was associated with.
