Actor Mohanlal, whose latest film Empuraan has ignited a social media backlash from Sangh Parivar supporters for its references to the Godhra train burning incident and the Gujarat pogrom of 2002, has apologised for some of the scenes that triggered the backlash and has informed fans and well-wishers that he is standing by the decision to remove the scenes that have hurt the sentiments of the right-wing groups that called for a boycott of the film directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran.
In a Facebook post, Mohanlal said that as an actor, it is his duty to ensure that a film of his isn't "showing hatred towards an ideology, or a political or religious institution," adding that he and the entire Empuraan team expresses regret for the mental anguish that the film has caused to his well-wishers and closed ones. "And recognising that this is the responsibility of everyone in the team, we have decided together to excise the hurtful portions from the film," he shared.
Meanwhile, 'Empuraan' actor Giju John, who plays the chief editor of a television channel in the film, has expressed his support for Prithviraj Sukumaran and the entire team amidst reports of a revised version of the film replacing the original version. He implored serious film buffs to watch the uncut version before it's pulled out.
In a statement, Giju wrote, "As a film enthusiast and a member of the Malayalam film industry, I stand in full solidarity with Prithviraj Sukumaran, whose groundbreaking work on Empuraan has created cinematic history. Rooted in his vision and unwavering commitment, for the 2nd time (first, with Lucifer), he has expanded Malayalam cinema's potential and propelled its commercial scope to new heights. No matter how grand the script is, it still requires a director with vision, talent, mental faculty, and the tenacity to execute it beyond its potential. I sincerely hope that the entire Malayalam industry stands with you all. A generation of aspiring filmmakers would be thankful for galvanizing them to dream big."