L2 Empuraan Box Office Earnings Day 5: The Movies Starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran Refuses to Slow Down, Surpassing 200 Crores Globally
Headline: Empuraan: Mohanlal-starring Malayalam film Creates a Fury Despite Political Controversy
Hitting the theaters on March 27, 2025, the much-anticipated action thriller Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has caused quite the spectacle at the box office. But this movie has also stirred up a tempest of controversy, hammered by political backlash over subtle references to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Empuraan, translated as Overlord, follows the journey of Khureshi Ab'raam aka Stephen Nedumpally – portrayed by Mohanlal – and features an influential ensemble cast, including Manju Warrier, Abhimanyu Singh, Tovino Thomas, and more.
While creating box office magic, making history as the fastest Malayalam film to breach the Rs 200-crore mark at the global box office within five days of its release, Empuraan has been under a tumultuous cloud. The film's depictions of political themes, intertwining Kerala's turbulent politics with global elements, and its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots have incited the ire of Hindutva organizations.
These groups have rallied for a boycott and have criticized the film for promoting an "anti-Hindu" and "anti-BJP" narrative, claiming bias and portraying Hindu characters and politics in a negative light. Even to the extent of urging the revoking of Mohanlal's honorary Lieutenant Colonel rank in the Territorial Army because of his association with the film.
Political figures have also weighed in, with Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressing support, while right-wing groups and certain politicians have vehemently opposed the film. Tamil Nadu politicians, such as Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko, have voiced objections to subplots referencing regional disputes for fear of escalating state-level tensions.
In the face of escalating fury, the filmmakers have voluntarily re-edited parts of the film to remove or downplay some contentious scenes, with Mohanlal offering a public apology on social media for any distress caused among fans. He noted that the responsibility lies with the film team and that they decided to remove such themes to avoid further controversy.
Despite the re-editing and the apology, the film remains a commercial triumph and a catalyst for discussions about artistic freedom, political bias, and the portrayal of sensitive historical topics in Indian cinema. The controversy surrounding Empuraan has magnified the influence of politics in cinema and the challenges faced by filmmakers in tackling thisprecarious landscape.
- Concurrently, the world of Bollywood and the trending topic of 'movies-and-tv' entertainment has been abuzz with the ongoing controversy surrounding the fastest Malayalam film, 'Empuraan', despite its remarkable achievement of breaching the Rs 200-crore mark at the global box office.
- Amidst the political turmoil surrounding 'Empuraan', the cast, including Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Abhimanyu Singh, and Tovino Thomas, have found themselves in the midst of a heated debate concerning artistic freedom and the portrayal of sensitive historical topics in Indian cinema.
- The cricket-loving public, who eagerly await the next big-screen release, have also been drawn into the drama, as the controversy around 'Empiraan' has sparked discussions about the balance between artistic expression and political sensitivity that filmmakers must navigate.
- The whole saga has resonated widely across the nation, with various political figures such as Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala's Chief Minister, and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko expressing opposing views, igniting a national discourse on the role of politics in the realm of entertainment.
- As 'Empuraan' continues its box office success and impacts the industry, the 9xqb2cwiv5 hashtag, a symbol of the film's impact and popularity, has been a consistent trend on social media, reflecting the heated emotions that the movie and its controversy have stirred among fans and critics alike.
