Tue Apr 08 18:01:27 UTC 2025: ## Mohanlal Film’s Gujarat Riot References Spark Debate in India
**Kozhikode, Kerala – April 9, 2025** – The recent voluntary cuts made to the Mohanlal-starrer film *L2: Empuraan* following online backlash over its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots have ignited a debate on historical memory and political censorship in India. Writer N.S. Madhavan, speaking at a panel discussion in Kozhikode, argued that the film’s depiction of the riots brought crucial, previously suppressed information to a generation largely unaware of the events.
Madhavan highlighted that a significant portion of the Indian population, particularly those under 38, have limited firsthand knowledge of the Gujarat riots. He attributed this to a lack of discussion in education and politics, particularly since 2014. The film’s excision of these scenes, he claimed, reinforces this historical erasure. Journalist V. Musafar Ahamed noted a surge in interest among young people in the 2004 documentary *Final Solution*, which also covers the riots.
Madhavan observed that the right-wing response to the film was limited to online platforms, suggesting a strategic avoidance of public protests that might reignite wider awareness of the events. He speculated that the Central Board of Film Certification’s leniency might stem from the lead actor’s perceived proximity to the ruling party. The decision to make the cuts, Madhavan suggested, may have been influenced by online harassment directed at the film’s cast and crew.
However, Madhavan also criticized the film itself, pointing to its depiction of violence and revenge as a problematic narrative. The discussion, part of a series titled “Cutting out the history of a genocide,” highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the portrayal of sensitive historical events in Indian cinema and the role of online platforms in shaping public discourse.
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