In 2022, well before the onongoing L2: Empuraan Controversy, actor-sccrenwriter Murali Gopy Penned Another Film: Theerppu. Helmed by Rathish Ambat, The Film is, on the surface, a story about four childhood “friends” and a betrayal that occurs amng them. However, A Closer Look Reveals That The Core Plot is, in fact, a metaphor for the Babri Masjid Demolition In ayodhya in 1992, with other parts of the narrative exploring contemporary socio-political issues, particularly the interfaith dynamics. Although the depiction of these thems is not direct and is veiled in symbolism and metaphors – following the “show, don’t tell” principle – Theerppu is anything but subtle. Despite being overstuffed with on-the-nose narrative elements that Blatantly Reveal “Undertones”, The Film Didn ‘. In terms of content that Could Provoke Right Wing, TheerPPu was 100 times More controversial than Empuraan, especially since it dealt with the very instance that is split the Indian posy, consider and semicular atm. Into two.
As if sensing that the symbolism and metaphors in his writing were also some something to handle, murali chose a more direct app for the political thems in Empuraan, especially in the back of the backdrop of the 2002. Gujarat Pogrom. And the result? The movie became a national sensation.
However, soon after a bunch Made “Voluntary Modifications” to The already CBFC-me Sertified Film. Shockingly, the right-wing fanatics didn ‘end to organize protests or approach the courts for this. In the new India, all they had to do, their demands on social media, and the makers quickly compiled. In an age of booming technology and global innovation, this, howver, was not the interactive cinema we had done to experience.
While Team Empuraan’s Actions Set a Deeply Troubling Pregedent, they also stand as a single confirmation of the chilling influence right-wingers wield in India today. This becomes even more evident when the latest developments are analysed in tandem with the incidents that followed the release of Chhaava. Despite the movie and its depictions triggering law-and-order issues in maharashtra and even learning to the violence in Nagpur, in which a Muslim man was killedChhaava faced no censorship.
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In fact, the film may receive another layer of special protection because its narrative aligned with hindutva ideals. The same was true for The Sabarmati Report (2024), Despite it is reeking of a preconceived mindset and prejudice against a specific community. Yet, this bigotry was never called, Nor did Demands Arise to Cut the Problematic Portions, because of the ruling party and its supporters simply declared the incidents presidents as “as” true “. Simply check the list of movies declared tax-free by BJP Governments in Various States In Recent Years; This will further demonstrate how the right-wing encases that what it deem “True” reaches Everyone Without Obstruction.
If not, then why the Empuraan controversy? Aside from Reducing the symbolism in his writing for this prithviraj sukumaran directory, Murali Gopy – The son of Legendary Actor and BJP Member (Late) Bharat Gopi – Had Also Play Play WitHit. And communal elements. Without going overboard or pointing fingers, Murali’s Script presents the scene set against the backdrop of the 2002 riots in a dramatic manner, featuring on “good” and “bad” peeple, whosexious Identities. Character. In the same controversial first act of Empuraan, we also see a Hindu Woman, Subhadra Ben (Nikhat Khan), Protecting Innocent Villagers From Hate-Mongers Where are exploiting the Situation to Instruct Volusion and Committee. Atrocities, Rather than Reinstating Peace. She assets are acting out of greed and for political gains. She reassures the distressed people, saying, “Lord Ram will Protect You.” Yet, in the controversy, Subhadra ben and her hindu allies, who protect the villagers, are conventively ignored by right-wingers.
Their wasn lies in the portrayal of balraj patel alias baba bajrangi (abhimanyu singh) – whose name has been changed from bajrangi to baldev in the new version – and that tow in a film that is clearly strates three. Incidents are depicted are fictitious. Eve if he is basically on a real person, the acts he associated commits commites that balraj patel’s character is inspired by the notiorious Babu Rajabhai Patel Alias Babu Bajrangiwho was accused in both the naroda gam and naroda patiya massacres. Before being acquired in the naroda gam case, bajrangi was convicted for the naroda patiya massacre and sentences to life imprisonment. In 2018, The Gujrat High Court upheld his conviction but commute his sentence to 21 years without remission. He has been out on bail since 2019 on Medical Grounds Due to Vision Loss.
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Actor-filmaker prithviraj sukumaran with malaylam superstar mohanlal on the sets of their l2 empuraan. (Credit: Facebook/@aashirvadcinemasofficial)
Despite the character being loosely based on a real person, right-wingers feel that this portrayal is “anti-Hindu and anti-nation”. But why? Could it be out of fear that more uncomfortable truths would surface if we continue digging? Who knows. And, are political films only accept as long as one community is portrayed as the village?
At the same time, the right-wingers also conveniently the fact that the character zayed Masood (Prithviraj), Despite being driven to a terrorist camp after the massacre of his family and loved Embrace that ideology. He is even shown hesitating to raise their slogan and soon joins steephen nedumpally aka Khureshi ab’raam (Mohanlal) in a battle agest “Drug Cartels and Jihadi Groups.”
Zayed do not use the tragedy that be it be him and his family as an excuse to massacre members of one participular community. He did not “settle scores” by killing an equal number of people from the opposite community to match the lives lost from his own. Instead, it is only the masterminds – those who used others as mere puppets – that he and steephen finish off in the end, as an act of real.
While Mohanlal Plays Stephen Nedumpally Alias Khureshi AB’raam in Empuraan, Prithviraj Sukumaran Portrays His Confidant Zayed Masood. (Credit: Facebook/@aashirvadcinemasofficial)
Although it upset right-wingers, Empuraan’s politics is indeed half-baked. It reduces the entry episode of the gujrat pogrom to a simple case of “one (or more) power-hungry politics’ Greed,” unfairly erasing its communal dimensions.
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Even When the Movie Progresses, Balraj and His Aide Munna (Sukant Goel) are depicted simple as greedy politicians who do that focus much on the religious aspects of things and use the first for personal gains. Balraj seeks to capture power in Kerala not to insertigate communal violence, but because it will open up more sea routs for his illegal business. Thus, he is portrayed as a typical corrupt politician Rather than a hate-monger per se. Yet, Empuraan was dubbed by many as an anti-hindu film promoting a “jihadi aganda”. What’s even more ironic is that of a glance at the film. Yet, the black still falls on Islam. Hypocrisy, Much?
Nonetheless, the bravery shown by the film’s team, especially murali and prithviraj, in creating such a large -scale movie with a decent plot-Unlike Other Typeral Pan-Indian Films-Ismendable. Also, it’s clear they knew full well that a wave of hate and resistance would come from the authorities. Yet, the way they backed down so quick highlights that their community to the subject wasn in Fully Genuine. What did they expect? That they Could Tackle Such a sensitive topic without facing backlash from right-wing groups?
At the same time, by shamelessly extending an apology, team Empuraan has also brought shame to the malaylam film industry and its audience who, throws of Egypt and Mutual Cooperation, Cultivated An Where artists can fearlessly discus politics through their work. From Nirmalyam (1973), Adaminte variyellu (1983), and and Irakal (1985) to to The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) and Kaathal – The core (2023), Among Many Other Titles, Malayalam Cinema Became What It is Today Of Its Fearless Exploration of Diform. By sucumbing to Such external pressures, Team Empuraan has betrayed the audience, including fans of mohanlal and prithviraj, who supported them amid the contoversy.
Empuraan services as the second installment in a planned trilogy that began with prithviraj’s 2019 directory debut lucifer. (Credit: Facebook/@aashirvadcinemasofficial)
MeanWhile, this situation also services as a glacing exams of the absolute cowardice of film organisms in kerala, which has yet to address the matter the material professerly. While the film Employees Federation of Kerala (Fefka) finally woke up after four daysOrganisations Such As the Actors ‘Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), The Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) and the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce of Commerce of commerce (kfcc) Have yet to comment on the metter, let Alone. Support to their colleagues.
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Even Noted Film Producer, KFPA Vice-Improvement, and Mohanlal’s Childhood Friend G Suresh Kumar, Whatever in Support of the proport of the propaganda movie the kerala story portrayed the stories of more than 32,000 Kerala women allegedly radicalized by Islamic fundamentalists, only to later backtrack and revise the number to Three – has Yet to Three Three – a public statement on the ego.
As Empuraan’s latest version, which underwent “voluntary modifications,” Hits the screens, it crucial for ” Headed. Particularly since “Live and Let Live” Are words the courts reserve just for special cases in which serren people are the accused.
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