Veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran has come forward in support of her son, Prithviraj Sukumaran, in response to the growing criticism surrounding his directorial venture, ‘L2: Empuraan’, starring Mohanlal.
On Sunday (March 30), Mallika took to her Facebook account and voiced her disappointment over allegations that Prithviraj misled superstar Mohanlal and the film’s producers. She dismissed the claims as baseless and expressed her frustration over her son being unfairly targeted.
“This is a mother’s pain. There is no point in someone making fun of me for speaking openly about it. Neither Mohanlal nor the producers have said that Prithviraj cheated them. I don’t think they will ever say that. Mohanlal is like my younger brother. I have known Lal since childhood. Mohanlal has praised my son on many occasions. But it is very sad that some people are trying to make my son a scapegoat without the knowledge of Lal or the producers. Director Prithviraj has not cheated anyone associated with this film or any film. He will never do so,” she wrote.
Mallika further clarified that Empuraan was a collective effort, with key figures, including writer Murali Gopy, being actively involved in script development and revisions.
“If you feel that there is any problem with the film Empuraan, then everyone in this group is responsible for it. They all read the script together. They all saw the scenes being shot together, and everyone agreed. If scenes needed to be edited during shooting, writer Murali Gopy was always willing to do so… then how can Prithviraj be solely responsible for it when everything was finalised and the film was released?”
She also refuted suggestions that Mohanlal and the producers were unaware of any creative decisions made during the film’s production.
“I want to make it clear that there is not a single shot in Empuraan that neither of them (Mohanlal or the producers) knew about. There is nothing in this film that Mohanlal does not know. Neither of them would say that they were unaware of anything in the film.”
Mohanlal Responds to Audience Concerns
On Sunday, Mohanlal addressed concerns about the film’s political and social themes, acknowledging that some aspects had upset a section of his audience. He assured that necessary changes would be made to avoid any unintended distress.
“I have come to know that some political and social themes included in the unveiling of Empuraan, the second part of the Lucifer franchise, have caused considerable distress among many of my loved ones,” he stated.
“As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films promote hatred towards any political movement, ideology, or religious group. Therefore, both I and the Empuraan team express our sincere regret for the distress caused to my dear ones, and we all take responsibility for it, with the realisation that such issues must be removed from the film.”
He also expressed gratitude to his audience, crediting their support for his long-standing career.
“For the past four decades, it is you, the audience, who have been a part of my cinematic journey. Your love and trust are my strength. I believe there is no Mohanlal beyond that.”
Production Team Announces Changes
In light of the controversy, the makers of Empuraan have decided to edit out several contentious scenes. Reports indicate that around 17 sequences, including riot scenes and depictions of violence against women, will be removed.
Despite the backlash, the film has performed exceptionally well at the box office. Released on March 27, ‘L2: Empuraan’ set a new record by becoming the first Malayalam film to gross Rs 80 crore worldwide during its opening weekend.