Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has publicly apologized after there was widespread criticism by the members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for some of the scenes in his recent film, Empuraan.
The veteran actor took to Facebook to say how sorry he was for the "emotional disturbance" caused by the film and assured that the controversial parts would be cut.
In his statement, Mohanlal accepted the issues, stating, "I understand that some socio-political elements woven into Empuraan, the sequel to Lucifer franchise, have caused huge discomfort to some of my beloved fans. As an artist, I feel it is my duty to ensure that none of my works encourage enigmatic feelings towards any political thought, movement, or religious group."
He also added, "The Empuraan team and I profoundly regret the inconvenience that has been caused to our beloved audience. We understand our shared responsibility and have decided to cut out the contentious content from the film."
The criticism from RSS-related groups came soon after the release of the film on Friday, specifically over scenes purportedly alluding to the 2002 Gujarat riots. BJP Kerala President and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized the film publicly, saying he would not watch it, blaming it for historical distortion.
Senior RSS leaders like J. Nandakumar and A. Jayakumar also expressed their displeasure on social media, while some cyber groups affiliated with the Sangh Parivar criticized the political undertones of the film.
Empuraan, directed by actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, is the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer.
Although it opened well at the box office, the movie was soon caught up in a controversy regarding its depiction of key investigating agencies such as the National Intelligence Agency, Intelligence Bureau, and Enforcement Directorate, which were shown in a negative light.
Sources close to the production of the movie have confirmed that these controversial scenes will be removed in a new version that will be sent for recensorship.
At the same time, supporters of RSS criticized the CBFC regional unit, accusing it of lack of oversight in clearing the film without sufficient scrutiny.
The sources reveal that a total of 17 edits will be made, and the name of the protagonist, Bhajarangi, will either be muted or dropped altogether.
Ending his note, Mohanlal penned, "For forty years now, I have worked in the industry as one of you. Your love and your faith are my biggest strength and I cannot conceive of my career without it."
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