Although actor Prithviraj Sukumaran's third directorial venture L2: Empuraan, starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead role, has been at the centre of a political storm since its release on Thursday (March 27), no film association linked to the Malayalam industry has commented on the matter yet, let alone extended support to their colleagues. All the major unions, including the Actors' Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), the Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA), the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) — the apex body of 21 trade unions working at various levels of the Malayalam film industry — have abstained from sharing their views on the controversy. Meanwhile, renowned actor Asif Ali has led by example, expressing his opinion in a direct manner, without any hesitation. Urging audiences to view cinema primarily as a source of entertainment, Asif also pointed out that the overt influence of social media on real life is turning out to be detrimental, as matters often blow out of proportion there. Express Opinion | Empuraan: Manufactured outrage over a non-ideological film — and a tragic capitulation "A three-hour film should be viewed purely as entertainment. It is up to us to decide how much influence a film should have. That decision should be in our hands. Whether it’s cinema or our surroundings, we have the power to choose what influences us. Those who lack the courage to express their opinions openly resort to hurling stones while staying anonymous, and social media is just another version of that," Asif Ali said. Extending support to victims of cyber harassment, he stated that "only those who experience it can truly understand its impact." Watch SCREEN's exclusive interview with Asif Ali here: Even as controversy surrounding its content continues to simmer, Empuraan recently underwent cuts, with about three minutes of footage being removed from the version currently being screened in theatres worldwide. Having received approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the re-edited version is expected to be screened in theatres starting Monday. This comes shortly after lead star Mohanlal issued an apology for the “emotional distress” caused by the “political and social themes” depicted in Empuraan. Also Read | Amid row, three minutes of footage removed from Mohanlal, Prithviraj’s Empuraan; writer Murali Gopy refrains from sharing superstar’s apology Having already grossed about Rs 174 crore worldwide in just four days, according to industry tracker Sacnilk, Empuraan has emerged as one of the biggest hits in Indian cinema this year. The second installment in a planned trilogy that began with Lucifer (2019), Empuraan also stars Manju Warrier, Abhimanyu Singh, Tovino Thomas and Indrajith Sukumaran in key roles. In his review of the movie, SCREEN's Anandu Suresh wrote: "Prithviraj Sukumaran's Mohanlal-starrer is certainly not another run-of-the-mill pan-Indian film that exists solely to scream 'look what our star can do!' However, it could have benefitted from better writing."
