As the controversy surrounding L2: Empuraan intensifies, filmmaker and retired army officer Major Ravi has stepped in to defend the film's lead actor Mohanlal, who has been caught in the storm over the film’s depiction of communal violence. Ravi claimed that the veteran actor was not involved in scripting decisions and is likely to issue a public apology soon. The film, directed by Prithviraj and written by Murali Gopy, has sparked backlash from Hindutva groups, who argue that its portrayal of communal riots is an attempt to malign the BJP and RSS. Despite the disclaimer stating that all events in the film are fictional, critics claim that certain scenes closely resemble the 2002 Gujarat riots. The backlash has also led to demands from some quarters for Mohanlal’s honorary Lieutenant Colonel rank to be revoked.
In a live social media session on Saturday, Major Ravi, who made his directorial debut in 2006 with the Mohanlal-starrer Keerthi Chakra, urged people not to conflate the controversy with Mohanlal’s military title. “I have received multiple calls from my Army colleagues, angry about the film. They want his honorary rank withdrawn, but I request everyone not to mix the two matters. He has done nothing wrong in this film while wearing an Army uniform,” Ravi stated. He further defended Mohanlal’s detachment from creative decisions, stating that the actor rarely intervenes in scripts. “He listens to a story once and does not ask for corrections. I swear he hasn’t watched Empuraan yet, just like he hadn’t seen Keerthi Chakra before its release. Trust me when I say he is deeply hurt by the controversy,” he added. Ravi also confirmed that Mohanlal does not appear in the contentious riot scenes. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the makers are voluntarily editing multiple scenes, with Ravi suggesting that 26 cuts have already been made. This follows earlier speculation that 17 scenes would be removed, including riot sequences and politically sensitive dialogues. However, no official confirmation has been given regarding the exact changes.
While extending his support to Mohanlal, Ravi was more critical of Prithviraj and Murali Gopy. He noted that Prithviraj, who had previously acted in one of his army films, should have exercised greater caution when handling such a sensitive subject. Ravi also took issue with Murali Gopy’s scripting choices. “Murali is my friend, but he should have included the full context of the incident. The train fire, in which 52 people perished, should have been shown in detail. Selectively portraying only Hindu-Muslim violence is irresponsible, and they should have been more careful,” he asserted. Although the opening credits of Empuraan include a scene of a train fire that kills passengers, including women, children, and monks, critics argue that it does not clarify the origins of the blaze, leaving room for misinterpretation. Right-wing factions have objected to what they see as a deliberate omission, claiming it distorts historical events. Ravi also raised concerns about the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which cleared the film despite BJP and RSS members holding key positions. He suggested that those responsible for approving Empuraan should be removed.
Major Ravi, known for his military-themed films, has had a long-standing association with Mohanlal. His 2006 film Keerthi Chakra spawned three more entries in the franchise—Kurukshetra (2008), Kandahar (2010), and the prequel 1971: Beyond Borders (2017). While Kurukshetra was a commercial success, the latter two received a lukewarm response both critically and commercially.
