Empuraan controversy: Political showdown over re-censorship and cuts

India Today

The recently released Malayalam film Emporan has sparked a political controversy in Kerala. The film will undergo re-censorship with 17 cuts, primarily addressing scenes of violence against women and children.

Transcript

00:00It's the controversy over Emporan. It's a film in Kerala, recently released and it's

00:05led to a political showdown and especially with regard to now action being taken on this

00:09in the sense that we are told political leaders have been locked in a fierce war of words.

00:15Kerala Chief Minister Penarai Vijayan has condemned what he calls a hate campaign against

00:19the film, saying it's a reflection of a growing coercion. Kerala Congress reiterating the

00:24attack accusing the Sangh of making efforts to distort history, that only they allow

00:29biased constructions. Kerala BJP Chief Rajiv Chandrasekhar meanwhile has slammed the filmmakers

00:36after the movie decided to undergo a re-censorship and said he would not be watching the film.

00:42But the focus has been on Mohanlal. He's the star actor there. He's one of the big stars

00:47of the industry as well. He broke his silence. He's issued an apology from Team Emporan over

00:53the distress caused to his loved ones and the fans. Basically Emporan will now be re-released.

00:58It's already released. It will be re-released after about 17 cuts, during which there are

01:03some violence against women and children that will be edited out and perhaps some more scenes.

01:10None of us in the BJP have said anything remotely intolerant about it. Our General Secretary

01:15M.T. Ramesh said very beautifully on the first day that a movie is a movie and the people

01:22of Kerala and the people all over the country see a movie as a movie. A movie is not history.

01:28Since the producers of the movie themselves have recognized that there is something wrong

01:31with the movie and they are undertaking 17 cuts and applying for re-censorship, I have

01:38chosen to convey to my, to whoever follows me, that I have chosen not to watch the movie

01:45and I am obviously disappointed that a movie has been used to distort some facts.

02:15My colleague Shibimol KG joining me from Kerala on this. Shibimol, tell me more about this

02:24film. What has been the showdown about and I am curious, this re-release that is happening,

02:30is it more of a re-censorship? Have they been ordered by someone to take it? What's happening?

02:35Well Pooja, what we are understanding is that around 17 cuts will be made and certain dialogues

02:42will be muted and the name of the antagonist might be changed. Well, they have not confirmed

02:47that the antagonist's name will be changed. But the 17 cuts that will be made is mainly

02:53in the first 20 minutes or first 30 minutes of the film, where the portrayal of an incident

02:58very closely in connection with the Gujarat riots. There is a scene where women are brutally

03:05attacked and killed, including pregnant women. So those scenes will be edited is what we

03:09are understanding. It won't be a major edit. What the primary information is, it could

03:15possibly be an edit of around 3 minutes is what we know as of now. But the re-edited

03:22one that will possibly be available from Wednesday onwards is what the sources are telling us.

03:29This is possibly for the first time that we have seen a Malayalam film going for a re-edit

03:34after such a major controversy, such a major protest taking place. We have seen earlier

03:39songs and all that getting edited after the directors have said that it doesn't suit the

03:44film. But it's the first time that we're hearing something like this. It was a decision that

03:48was informed by the makers itself. The BJP, of course, earlier itself, from day one itself

03:54said that they don't want to interfere in the freedom of choice or expression of a film

03:59maker or the film, whatever they have decided, let them go ahead. We won't interfere. But

04:04there was massive protest by the right-wing groups and activists, especially the RSS had

04:10come out very openly criticising it, even when the BJP said that they don't want to

04:14interfere. The Congress and the CPM, both Chief Minister of Indorevijayan and Office

04:18Leader V D Sandeshan had extended support to the film and stood in solidarity with the

04:23film. But right after the decision to edit it and right after...

04:28So it will be interesting, should be more what you're saying. Because both Prithviraj

04:31Mohanlal are big names, not just in Malayalam cinema, but across the country as well. So

04:36we'll be tracking what was it about the film that's led to such a showdown. Shibi Moul,

04:39thank you very much for now.

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