Thiruvananthapuram: The newly edited version of Empuraan is set to hit theatres on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, following a series of changes. The film had sparked controversy over certain content, leading to the Censor Board requesting several scenes and references to be removed.

Earlier reports had suggested that the re-edited version of the film would be released by Thursday, following the required modifications. However, with the Censor Board setting a strict deadline for the edits, the film’s crew worked quickly to make the necessary changes. Despite Sunday and Monday being holidays, a special meeting was held by Censor Board members till Sunday night to review the film and decide on the scenes to be altered.

After a detailed review, the Central Censor Board instructed that about 20 minutes from the first part of the movie be cut. After further discussions, the final edit saw approximately three minutes being removed. Additionally, the villain character’s name, Bajrangi, is set to be changed, or the scenes containing the name will be muted. Riot and rape scenes, which had sparked much of the controversy, will also be excised from the film.

In light of the ongoing issues, actor Mohanlal issued a public apology on social media, which was also shared by Prithviraj. Writer Murali Gopi has yet to comment on the matter, while film industry organisations have remained silent on the controversy.

Despite the debates surrounding its content, Empuraan continues to draw large audiences, with the film currently screening in 4,000 theatres across four languages.