As Mohanlal-starrer Empuraan’s 2002 reference triggers a storm, Kerala BJP says not opposed to any movie

Hours after its release, Empuraan became the subject of heated debates on social media over its reference to the 2002 Gujarat riots, with several handles, including those from the Left and the Congress, hailing it as a movie that “exposed Sangh Parivar agenda”. Hindutva groups and supporters came down heavily on the film, accusing it of maligning the Hindutva ideology and trying to please “anti-national elements”. Some even called for the film to be boycotted.

However, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has greeted the Empuraan team in a Facebook post: “Best wishes, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran and team! Look forward to watching and enjoying #L2E #Empuraan one of these days!”

On Friday, after a core committee meeting of the party, BJP state secretary P Sudheer said, “The party will not go for any campaign against Empuraan. Cinema will be treated as cinema and individuals can air their views as an audience. We do not oppose any movie.”

At the same time, leaders of some Hindutva groups came out openly against the movie.

R V Babu, president of Kerala Hindu Aikya Vedi – an umbrella organisation of Hindutva groups in the state – said, “The film has done injustice to the victims of the Godhra train burning of 2002 (in which Hindu pilgrims were killed). The film failed to realise the fact that if Godhra had not happened, the subsequent Gujarat riots would not have taken place. When terrorist organisations like the Popular Front of India gain influence and Kerala becomes a victim of many terrorist activities, the film ignores this and scornfully places an organisation with Hindutva ideology in the dock.”

J Nandakumar, the national convener of the RSS-affiliated Prajna Pravah, also came out against the movie, saying that it is serving anti-Hindutva interests. On his Facebook page, Nandakumar also shared news regarding the Godhra train burning incident.

The Congress in Kerala said the “world class” film “exposed the Sangh agenda”.

A post on the X handle of the Congress’s Kerala unit said, “People who never stepped foot on Kerala’s soil were saying that a C-grade propaganda movie they released tax-free was the real ‘Kerala story’. Now, a world-class Malayalam movie exposed the Sangh agenda and the division they plan in Kerala to capture control of our vast coastline and two major ports, they started crying. Meanwhile, team @INCKerala is enjoying this meltdown.”

Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkoottathil said the “hate campaign” against Mohanlal, Prithviraj and scriptwriter Murali Gopi was unacceptable. “Those who advocated for films such as Kerala Story and Kashmir Files on the grounds of freedom of expression have come out against Empuraan,” he said.

Bineesh Kodiyeri, an actor and son of the late CPI(M) veteran Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said in a Facebook post, “If a big-budget film in present-day India is openly saying that Sangh Parivar is ruling the country after carrying out the Gujarat riots and that the Home Ministry is ruling matters, that requires courage. Congratulations to the makers of the film.”