L2 Empuraan Row: Prithviraj Being Made a "Scapegoat", Says Director’s Mother
She emphasised that any issues with L2 Empuraan should be considered a collective responsibility.
Veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran, mother of actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran, has spoken out against criticism directed at her son amid the controversy surrounding the film L2 Empuraan. She accused some individuals of attempting to make Prithviraj a "scapegoat" and dismissed theories suggesting that superstar Mohanlal was unaware of contentious scenes in the movie.
In a Facebook post written in Malayalam, Sukumaran stated, "Some people have deliberately spread the idea that Prithviraj cheated Mohanlal and the producers, including Antony Perumbavoor, by taking up Empuraan, and some media outlets have now taken it up. Knowing what happened behind the scenes of this film, I am extremely hurt that some people are trying to isolate Prithviraj."
She further emphasized that any issues with L2 Empuraan should be considered a collective responsibility.
"It is very sad that some people are trying to make my son a scapegoat without the knowledge of Mohanlal or the producers. Prithviraj has not cheated anyone associated with any film, not just those associated with this film," she wrote, adding that any problem with L2 Empuraan is a collective responsibility. "They all read the script together. They all saw the scenes being shot together and everyone said okay. And when everything is done and the movie is released, how can Prithviraj alone be responsible for it?" she said. Ms Sukumaran said there is no shot in the movie that Mohanlal and Antony Perumbavoor did not know about.
The controversy erupted after some references in L2 Empuraan to the 2002 Gujarat riots sparked public outrage. The film's producer, Gokulam Gopalan, has announced that 17 cuts will be made, with the revised version hitting theatres next week.
Meanwhile, Mohanlal has publicly apologized, stating that it was not his intention to cause pain. "As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my movies harbours hatred towards any political movement, idea, or religion," he said. The actor affirmed that the team collectively decided to remove the controversial parts.
Prithviraj has shared Mohanlal's statement on social media, signaling his agreement with the decision. Despite the backlash, L2 Empuraan continues to draw significant audiences to cinemas.
