Kerala CM backs Empuraan, slams 'atmosphere of fear created by Sangh Parivar' (2025)

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has voiced strong support for the Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan, while accusing the Sangh Parivar of fostering an "atmosphere of fear" regarding the stand adopted by its makers against communalism.

In a strongly-worded Facebook post, the Left veteran said the movie has reference to one of the "most brutal genocides the country has ever witnessed". That has angered Sangh Parivar and it's masterminds, he alleged.

His remarks came a day after he watched the Prithviraj Sukumaran-directed film with his family at a multiplex in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday evening.

Vijayan lauded Empuraan for elevating the Malayalam film industry to greater heights and condemned the Sangh Parivar’s widespread hate campaign against the film, its actors, and crew.

Not just the ranks but even the leaders of the BJP and RSS are issuing public threats against its makers, he pointed out.

"There have even been reports that the producers are being forced to re-censor and edit the movie under this pressure. This atmosphere of fear created by the Sangh Parivar is a matter of concern," the Chief Minister said.

He further pointed out that it is not good for democracy that communalists are able to destroy a work of art and viciously attack artists simply because they have taken a stand against communalism and portrayed its horrors.

"In a democratic society, the freedom of expression of citizens must be protected. Violent calls to destroy and ban artworks and artists are new manifestations of fascist mindsets. It is a violation of democratic rights," he said.

Stating that the rights to make films, watch, enjoy and evaluate them or agree or disagree with them should not be lost, Vijayan said the united voice of the country, which is rooted in democratic and secular values, must be raised for this.

CM Vijayan's reaction came amidst Sangh Parivar leaders and activists intensified their attack against certain portions of the film and alleged that it was against the interests of the nation.

The Prithviraj-directed film, the second part of the 'Lucifer' movie, a trilogy planned by the Prithviraj-Mohanlal team, has become a topic of hot debate over its critique of right-wing politics and the covert mention of the Gujarat riots.

On Thursday, the day of the movie's release, the Sangh Parivar came out with vehement criticism against the film on social media, while the Congress and a section of the Left platforms celebrated the film for portraying the right-wing politics as "villainous".

'L2: Empuraan', which had its worldwide release on Thursday, had 4,500 shows in 746 screens in Kerala alone on the opening day, sources said.

PTI