Mohanlal apologises over Empuraan's riot scene controversy

India Today

Malayalam actor Mohanlal has addressed the controversy surrounding his film L2: Empuraan, which has sparked debate over its alleged references to the 2002 Gujarat riots. In a statement, he apologised for any "distress" caused to viewers.

Transcript

00:00There's some breaking news that's coming in. Superstar Mohanlal has now apologised for the film M. Puran.

00:05Mohanlal has said sorry if the film caused distress.

00:08He says we'll remove objectionable scenes and that he will ensure that the films don't hurt any sentiments.

00:15My colleague Shibhi Moul is joining me on the broadcast with more details.

00:18Shibhi Moul, we saw that there was a row that erupted over the movie M. Puran

00:22and now we're seeing actor Mohanlal has apologised over the entire issue.

00:26Give us more details on what he said and what exactly was the issue over.

00:31What we're seeing is Mohanlal saying that those scenes that has caused distress among the people

00:37will be removed completely is what he has confirmed.

00:40Since yesterday there have been reports that around 17 scenes are to be cut that shows violence

00:46and riots and violence against women. Those scenes will be cut was already said

00:50but today Mohanlal officially has confirmed and also said that in my 40 years of career

00:55I do not intend to hurt anybody, I do not intend to cause distress to any community or any religious sect.

01:01If that was done from our part, I along with my M. Puran team likes to apologise

01:06and remove all those scenes. That's the decision that they have taken.

01:09Possibly from tomorrow or this week itself, the movie will be edited

01:15and all those portions that has caused a controversy will be removed.

01:18In fact, the controversy erupted right after the movie released on the 27th, that's last Thursday.

01:24When this movie in the first 20 minutes explodes the past of the second hero

01:29played by the actor and the director of the film Prithviraj.

01:32Where it's shown that the character named Zahid Masood was a part of a Muslim family, a Muslim community

01:37and it shows that how his family was brutally attacked and killed by Hindutva activists

01:42including a scene showing where his sister's character who was pregnant was raped and killed by the Hindutva activists.

01:49It also goes on to show that how it's a political thriller actually.

01:52So it's the second part of the first film Lucifer.

01:57So in both the films, it shows the Kerala political scenario also.

02:01So again in the second part, in M Puran shows them how the ruling party in the country

02:07are misusing central agencies against the opposition leaders and opposition parties in the country.

02:11So all those scenes are there in the film, which right after the film released

02:17there was a massive outrage on social media with a lot of BJP activists calling for a boycott of the film

02:23and saying that this was targeted, this is an agenda, this is a handy Hindu film

02:29created to cause division in the society is what the BJP supporters said.

02:33The party, the BJP party officially has said that they would not want to interfere in it.

02:38It's a film, let the film take its own course is what they've said.

02:41But the RSS, the mouthpiece of RSS, the organisers yesterday sharply criticised the film

02:46questioning the political leanings of the director, Prithviraj

02:49and also what made Mohanlal, the actor, sign up for a film like this is what the RSS sharply criticised.

02:54The film has got support from both the chief minister, Pindarai Vijayan

02:57as well as the opposition leader BD Sardesan, both the CPM and the Congress chief minister

03:01yesterday even went out, went to watch this film with his family

03:05and said that, you know, this is a very concerning situation

03:10that a film's freedom of expression is being questioned by certain people

03:15a certain section of the society, this is not acceptable.

03:18We will stand strongly with Emperon is what both the opposition leader BD Sardesan

03:22and the CM Pindarai Vijayan said.

03:23But Mohanlal right now has, you know, apologised and said that

03:26you know, those scenes will be removed if it caused any distress to anybody.

03:29Absolutely, thanks Shivy Mohan for bringing us those details on that story.

03:32Actor Mohanlal has apologised over the entire row that Emperon has caused

03:36and has confirmed in fact that scenes from the film will be cut.

03:40Now political row over the film L2 Emperon has escalated

03:44after backlash over film's reference to 2002 Gujarat riots

03:47Mohanlal and film makers have decided to cut a few themes in the movie.

03:51Superstar Mohanlal has now apologised to his fans over a few scenes in his movie

03:55Emperon that has ignited a row.

03:57Scene related to violence against women and riot will be removed from the film.

04:01The new version of the film will be screened from next week.

04:04Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan accompanied by his family

04:07attended a screening of Emperon in Thiruvananthapuram.

04:10Vijayan lashed out at Sang Parivar accusing them of creating an atmosphere of fear.

04:14Kerala BJP Chief Rajiv Chandrasekhar slammed the movie makers

04:18after the movie decided to undergo a re-censorship.

04:21He said that a movie can't be seen as history

04:23and that any movie that tries to build a story by distorting truth is doomed to fail.

04:28Meanwhile Kerala Congress continues to question the outrage over the film

04:31accusing RSS and BJP of acting out of fear as the film exposes the truth.

04:37None of us in the BJP have said anything remotely intolerant about it.

04:41Our General Secretary M.T.Ramesh said very beautifully on the first day

04:46that a movie is a movie and the people of Kerala and the people all over the country

04:51see a movie as a movie.

04:53A movie is not history.

04:55Since the producers of the movie themselves have recognised

04:58that there is something wrong with the movie

05:00and they are undertaking 17 cuts and applying for re-censorship

05:04I have chosen to convey to whoever follows me

05:09that I have chosen not to watch the movie

05:12and I am obviously disappointed that a movie has been used to distort some facts.

05:20There is another view different from the BJP side prevailing in the country.

05:25Now one movie has been made in that context and another story is being told.

05:32I wonder why does it irritate BJP and Sanku Parivar so much?

05:37Because they have always made movies to be a medium for hate campaigns.

05:43Now the RSS and BJP coming against Emburan is in a way good

05:48because the people of the new generation will get to know what actually happened in Godhra.

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