The film “L2: Empuraan,” starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran, has found itself at the center of a heated controversy. Social media is abuzz with calls to boycott the movie, with some fans even canceling their ticket bookings and sharing photos of their refunds online. Despite the trailer receiving praise from industry giants like Rajinikanth and SS Rajamouli, the movie’s depiction of certain scenes has sparked outrage among some viewers.
These scenes, which appear to reference the 2002 Gujarat riots and massacre, have been met with criticism. The film’s makers claim that the story is entirely fictional, but some viewers are drawing parallels between the on-screen violence and real-life events. The movie’s opening scenes show communal violence, which unfolds on screen for over 15 minutes. The title sequence features images reminiscent of the Godhra train burning incident, where a coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze by a mob. The crowd’s violence is also depicted, resulting in the deaths of several Muslims.
Controversy Surrounding ‘L2: Empuraan’ Scenes
Some sequences in the film bear similarities to the Bilkis Bano case, where 11 people were convicted of gang-raping and murdering several members of a family. The character of Baba Bajrangi, who leads the mob, seems to be inspired by Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring the Naroda Patiya massacre.
Public Outrage: ‘Hindus Portrayed as Villains’
The controversy surrounding “L2: Empuraan” began when senior CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s son, Binish Kodiyeri, expressed support for the film and encouraged people to watch it. The backlash intensified, with some arguing that a film promoting ‘anti-Hindu’ propaganda is difficult to view as a work of art.
One Twitter user, @hindupost, labeled the film as “propaganda” and claimed that it portrays Hindus as villains. Another user stated, “If viewers start taking ‘Empuraan’s’ anti-Hindu, anti-North Indian story seriously, even God won’t be able to save this land.” The user hoped the film would flop outside of South India, adding that it’s been a long time since they’ve seen a movie spewing venom against North Indians.
More Reactions
Other Twitter users shared similar sentiments, feeling that the film is unfair to Hindus and promotes a biased narrative. Hindu Seva Kendram founder, Pratish Viswanath, called Prithviraj an “agenda-based” producer. An online portal, ‘The CommuneMag,’ compared “L2: Empuraan” to Pa. Ranjith’s “Kaala,” stating that both films stoop low to promote “anti-Hindu, anti-BJP, and anti-Modi propaganda.”