The controversy surrounding L2: Empuraan has taken a dramatic turn, with multiple political and religious groups demanding action against the film. Tamil Nadu’s MDMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko has urged the state government to impose a ban, arguing that the film portrays the Mullaperiyar dam as unsafe and creates unnecessary fear among Kerala’s people. His objections stem from scenes in which the dam is depicted as a potential disaster, including a dialogue that implies it could be destroyed with a bomb. Vaiko also took issue with a sequence where the Travancore king is shown being coerced by the British into signing a 999-year lease agreement for the dam’s land, interpreting it as a politically charged statement.
The Mohanlal-starrer had already faced criticism from right-wing groups, who labeled it “anti-national” and accused the filmmakers of pushing a divisive agenda. In response to the backlash, the makers of Empuraan voluntarily censored multiple scenes, with Mohanlal himself issuing an apology. The veteran actor reassured his audience that he had no intention of offending anyone and confirmed that controversial clips would be removed. However, this did not put an end to the controversy, as fresh demands for censorship and a potential ban have surfaced.
Kerala Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has strongly opposed these demands, calling the backlash against Empuraan an assault on artistic freedom. He raised the issue in Parliament, stating that repeated threats and forced censorship set a dangerous precedent for free speech in India. Brittas pointed out that as many as 24 scenes had already been removed following the initial controversy, yet the film was once again being sent to the censor board due to additional pressure from political groups. He warned that if such interference continues, it could seriously undermine the creative rights of filmmakers and jeopardize the future of Indian cinema.
Adding to the turmoil, Kerala’s Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, George Kurian, accused the film of offending Christian sentiments. He claimed that the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) had passed resolutions against Empuraan, condemning it as an insult to the Christian faith. Kurian alleged that communist parties were using the film as a tool to target the Christian community, further fueling political tensions around the movie.
With conflicting political, religious, and cultural narratives shaping the debate, L2: Empuraan has become a flashpoint in India’s ongoing discourse on censorship, creative freedom, and political sensitivities. The film's fate now depends on how authorities respond to these demands, as the controversy shows no signs of dying down.
