This is an archive article published on April 1, 2025
Empuraan ‘not a political vehicle, but a film’, says director Prithviraj’s mother Mallika
Mallika had earlier written a Facebook post in which she claimed that her son Prithviraj was being targeted wrongly for “hiding” parts of the script from Mohanlal, the lead actor.
Actor-turned-director Prithviraj Sukumaran’s mother Mallika Sukumaran said that L2: Empuraan, the film over which a political controversy is raging in Kerala, should not be considered a “political vehicle”.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Mallika, an actor who has been in the Malayalam film field for around 50 years, said, “The film (Empuraan) should be treated as a film and not as a political vehicle. There is nothing in the film which is controversial. There were many other films, released in the past, which dealt with similar topics. Why should this film alone be targeted?”
Mallika had earlier written a Facebook post in which she claimed that her son Prithviraj was being targeted wrongly for “hiding” parts of the script from Mohanlal, the lead actor. The allegation was raised by Major Ravi, the BJP state vice president and a Malayalam film director credited for films including Keerthichakra (2006). “I saw Major Ravi’s post and I felt that it was wrong. I was merely stating my opinion on what Major Ravi wrote (in my Facebook post),” Mallika said.
Despite criticism against the film from the BJP and RSS quarters, Mallika said, “We are not against any political party or outfit.” Mallika, however, refused to comment on whether her son was being targeted for political reasons. “I cannot comment on who is targeting him,” she said.
However, speaking to the media on Monday, Mallika had said, “I am pained over my son being singled out and attacked. If there are issues about the film, all those associated with it have a collective responsibility. All of them have read the script sitting together, and they had given the OK during the shooting. If any scene had to be changed at the time of shooting, writer Murali Gopi was ready to make changes. Things being so, how will Prithviraj alone be responsible for it?”.
She had also said, “Neither Mohanlal nor the producers have said that Prithviraj cheated them. Lal had praised my son on many occasions. But, I am really pained over the attempt of certain quarters to make my son a scapegoat. As a director, he has not cheated anyone associated with this movie.”
Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice.
Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include:
Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India.
Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism.
Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities.
National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting.
Authoritativeness & Trust
A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society.
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