Mohanlal-starrer ‘L2: Empuraan’ Triggers Political Storm in Kerala

The row over the massive hit Malayalam film, ‘L2: Empuraan’, continues to rage on, with political parties in Kerala at odds over its portrayal of right-wing politics and its perceived criticism of the 2002 Gujarat riots. The film, which stars Prithviraj in his directorial debut, has become the center of a hotly debated topic, with some accusing it of being anti-Modi and anti-Nation, while others see it as a beacon of free speech and artistic expression.

The film, which has garnered widespread critical acclaim and has broken box office records in Kerala, has become a lightning rod for political sentiments, with some right-wing groups demanding its re-censoring and others defending its creative freedom.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, speaking to the press, alleged that the BJP’s criticism of the movie was part of the intolerance shown by the Sangh Parivar, a reference to the various controversies and criticisms faced by the party and its affiliates in recent years.

“BJP should introspect whether it is right to show intolerance only when they are criticised,” Venugopal said, adding that the uproar against the movie should be seen in the context of recent SC verdicts quashing links to FIRs lodged by Gujarat Police against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi for allegedly posting an edited video of a provocative song. The Congress MP recalled SC’s observation that even if a large number of persons dislike the views expressed by another, the right of the person to express the views must be respected and protected.

Education Minister V Sivankutty, however, came out against the reported move to re-censor the film, saying that Gujarat riot and Godhra were part of Indian history and generations would see and know about it whatever scissors have been used to cut it.. “Freedom of expression is cornerstone of democracy,” Sivankutty said, defending the film’s creative freedom to portray the riots and Godhra in the way it saw fit.

Conclusion:
The row over the Mohanlal-starrer ‘L2: Empuraan’ serves as a stark reminder of the fractious political landscape in Kerala, where even the most seemingly innocuous films can become a flashpoint for political debate and controversy. As the film continues to rage on, one cannot help but wonder what the future holds for free speech and creative expression in the state.

Keywords: Mohanlal, L2: Empuraan, Prithviraj, Gujarat riots, Godhra, Congress, BJP, Sangh Parivar, intolerance, freedom of expression

Hashtags: #Mohanlal #L2Empuraan #Prithviraj #GujaratRiots #Godhra #Congress #BJP #SanghParivar #Intolerance #FreeSpeech



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