This is an archive article published on April 1, 2025
‘Online attack’ on Mohanlal, Prithviraj over Empuraan not acceptable: Powerful Malayalam film body FEFKA
Since its release on Thursday, the film became a political flashpoint in Kerala with Hindutva groups and supporters severely criticising it for certain themes and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar announcing that he would not watch it.
The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), a powerful film body in the state, has condemned the “online attack” against the cast and crew of Malayalam film Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Since its release on Thursday, the film became a political flashpoint in Kerala with Hindutva groups and supporters severely criticising it for certain themes and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar announcing that he would not watch it.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, FEFKA said, “The controversies surrounding the film Empuraan and the social media attacks on the director of the film, Prithviraj, and lead actor, Mohanlal, are unfortunate and condemnable.”
The film body, which represents 21 unions of technicians including directors, said that while it welcomes criticism against any film’s form and content, only constructive criticism can yield productive results. “Only creative criticism can help the transformation of any art form,” the statement read.
The statement addressed all political outfits. It said that “destructive criticism, personal attacks, threats and branding cannot be accepted”. Quoting from Earnest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, FEFKA wrote, “A man can be destroyed but not defeated,” adding, “This is the message art and artists have been reiterating for ages.”
A senior FEFKA office bearer told The Indian Express, “Criticism can be accepted, but not ostracisation. In the case of this film, it’s the latter which is happening.”
“This is not the first time that FEFKA has stood with a film which has faced a widespread hate campaign. We have stood by other productions which have faced similar attacks,” the office bearer said, reiterating that criticism should be on the merits of a film and should not lead to character assassination.
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Following mounting criticism on social media, the makers of Empuraan had said on Saturday that they would make “voluntary modifications” to the film.
On Sunday, Mohanlal expressed “sincere regret for the mental distress caused to many I hold dear” by the political and social themes of the movie.
Meanwhile, leaders of Kerala’s ruling CPI(M) and Opposition Congress have criticised the attacks on the film, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calling out the “atmosphere of fear created by the Sangh Parivar” that he said led to the makers of Empuraan deciding to make cuts to it.
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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