Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal Sunday tendered an unconditional apology for the pain and anguish caused to his viewers and fans over certain scenes in his latest movie L2: Empuraan.
In a Facebook post, he said in his career spanning four decades, he has steered away from politics and controversial dialogues and scripts. Almost admitting that he made a blunder this time, Mohanlal offered his apologies.
According to social media that quoted close friends of Mohanlal, the superstar was not aware of the controversial script. The script that he had agreed to did not have the on-the-face political criticism of the Sangh Parivar or references to the Godhra riots.
The translated Facebook post |
These sources said writer Murali Gopy and director-actor Prithviraj Sukumaran were the real villains as they made changes in the script behind the back of Mohanlal. Sources also said that the superstar was upset after watching the fan show and refused to speak to the media.
Prithviraj Sukumaran and Gopy are conspicuous in their silence. They have so far not come out in the open in support of Mohanlal. In a sense, the two used Mohanlal's star value to make the controversial movie and make the cash box ring.
The producers have now re-sent the movie to the Censor Board and agreed for as many as 17 cuts, including changing the name of the villain from Bajarang.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had given his support for L2: Empuraan, did a U-turn Sunday saying he will not watch the movie as it reportedly shows the BJP in poor light. The Sangh Parivar continued its relentless attack on the movie and Mohanlal.
However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan showed his support by watching the movie with family on Sunday here. Earlier, he said that the attack on freedom of speech by the Sangh Parivar should be condemned.
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan also extended support for the movie.
There are unconfirmed reports that the movie will run to full house after Ramzan as Muslim organisations have given their silent support
L2: Empuraan also reportedly shows PM Narendra Modi in poor light post Godhra incident when he was the CM of Gujarat. The movie reportedly has gone soft on the people who were involved in burning a few Ram Sevaks to death while going hammer and tongs at the Sangh Parivar.
No movie in Malayalam has divided the state on political and communal lines as L2: Empuraan, the second in a trilogy, with Lucifer being the first.
