Not 17 but 24 cuts in Mohanlal-Prithviraj's L2: Empuraan

Earlier, we reported that the Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan is set to be released in a re-edited version with a trimmed runtime of 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 44 seconds—2 minutes and 8 seconds shorter than its original length of 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 52 seconds. The re-edited version has undergone 24 cuts, as confirmed by the latest censor certificate, revising earlier reports of 17 cuts. These changes address the controversy surrounding specific scenes.

Key modifications include renaming the main villain from Bajrangi to Baldev and removing Central Minister Suresh Gopi’s name from the film's thank-you card. A scene featuring a vehicle passing through a background with religious symbols has been eliminated, and references to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been muted. Other edits involve modifications to dialogues between the main villain and another antagonist, adjustments to a conversation between Prithviraj’s character, Syed Masood, and his father, and the removal of a scene depicting violence against a pregnant woman.

Here's the full list of cuts made:

One of the film's co-producer Antony Perumbavoor of Aashirvad Cinemas clarified that these edits were made voluntarily and not due to political pressure. “We never intend to create films that offend or harm anyone. If any part of the film unintentionally causes distress, it is our duty to address it. The responsibility lies with the actor, director, and producer to take corrective measures, which is what we have done,” he stated.

Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and scripted by Murali Gopy, L2: Empuraan has faced intense political scrutiny since its release on March 27. Right-wing groups have accused it of portraying the BJP and RSS in a negative light, while critics argue that it carries political undertones resembling real-life communal conflicts. The backlash led to demands for cuts, with allegations that the film misrepresented historical events. It was followed by Mohanlal issuing a statement expressing regret over any unintended distress caused and assured that changes would be made.

Despite the re-editing, L2: Empuraan continues its strong box office run. The film has reportedly surpassed the lifetime collection of Jude Anthony Joseph's 2018 to become the second highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time in just five days. The second instalment in the Lucifer trilogy also crossed the Rs 200 crore mark globally within five days and earned over $10 million overseas in its first three days, as claimed by the makers. The only Malayalam film ahead of L2: Empuraan in box office collections is Manjummel Boys, which earned Rs 240 crore.