Superstar Mohanlal has addressed the growing controversy surrounding his latest release, L2: Empuraan, the second installment in the Lucifer franchise, following widespread backlash over the film’s political and social themes. The actor issued a public apology on social media, acknowledging that some of the film's themes had caused significant distress among his fans and loved ones.
In a heartfelt statement posted online, Mohanlal expressed, "I know that some of the political and social themes that have been introduced in the making of the film Empuraan, the second part of the Lucifer franchise, have caused great distress to many of my loved ones. As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films is hostile to any political movement, ideology or religious group. Therefore, the team of Empuraan and I sincerely regret the distress caused to my loved ones, and with the realisation that the responsibility for it lies with all of us who worked behind the film, we have decided together to remove such themes from the film."
However, Mohanlal’s apology has not been met with unanimous support from his fans. Many have expressed their disappointment and frustration with the actor’s decision, especially considering his status as a legendary figure in the industry.
One fan remarked, “It’s disappointing to think that Mohanlal, such a legendary actor, might not have seen the movie before its release. If that’s the case, how could he have known the storyline was unfolding in a certain way? It’s a bit sad to witness Mohanlal seemingly becoming a pawn in the hands of Prithviraj. We’ve always admired and respected him, and to see him in this light feels disheartening, especially since we’ve always placed him on such a high pedestal.”
Others took to social media to voice deeper concerns, particularly regarding the influence of political pressures on the artistic freedom of actors. One user stated, “You’re saying that even someone like you, who has been part of Kerala for forty-five years and has always been responsible to society, had to give in to the pressure from the Sangh Parivar as an artist. This is exactly how fascism is quietly creeping in, little by little.”
Fans also drew comparisons to past events in Mohanlal’s career, referencing the time when the movie Kalapani was released. One fan commented, “When Kalapani was released, Lalettan didn’t have to make such a decision, because back then, no one questioned the freedom that existed. But today, why are you afraid? ”
The apology has left many fans torn between their admiration for Mohanlal and their concerns about the artistic compromises in Empuraan.
The Prithviraj-directed L2: Empuraan, the second installment in the Lucifer trilogy planned by the Prithviraj-Mohanlal team, has sparked intense debate over its critique of right-wing politics and its subtle reference to the Gujarat riots.
On the opening day of the movie, Thursday, the film faced strong criticism from the Sangh Parivar on social media, while Congress and certain Left-wing platforms lauded it for depicting right-wing politics as "villainous."
With its worldwide release on Thursday, L2: Empuraan saw an impressive 4,500 shows across 746 screens in Kerala alone, according to sources.
Published: 30 Mar 2025, 03:05 pm IST
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