KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal expressed Sunday regret over distress caused by political & social themes in his movie Empuraan. His statement follows backlash over film's alleged portrayal of the '02 Gujarat riots, leading CBFC to mandate 17 changes. "As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films harbours animosity towards any political movement, ideology or religious group," Mohanlal wrote in an FB post.
"I have come to understand certain themes introduced in Empuraan have caused distress among many who care for me...
We've collectively decided to remove such themes from the movie." However, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan (CPM) and VD Satheesan of Congress defended Empuraan, condemning alleged efforts by Sangh Parivar to pressure changes to the film. Kerala BJP chief criticises Mohanlal film, CM praises it The film Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, released worldwide on March 27 and grossed over Rs 100 crore at the box office, has drawn sharp criticism from BJP and RSS members in Kerala.
RSS-affiliated publication Organiser claimed that some scenes were "purposefully designed to reinforce the image of Hindus as the primary aggressors during the 2002 riots". BJP's Kerala unit president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he would no longer watch the movie. "I had said that I would watch the movie Empuraan when I heard it was a sequel to Lucifer.
But now I have come to know that the makers of the movie themselves have made 17 amendments in the movie and that.
