Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan finally hit the big screens on Thursday. Directed by co-star Prithviraj Sukumaran, this sequel to the 2019 action-thriller Lucifer has generated mixed responses and reviews.
While some viewers have praised Mohanlal’s performance and the high-octane action sequences, others have panned the Malayalam film for trying to spread anti-Hindu propaganda.
Part 2 of planned trilogy
L2: Empuraan is the second instalment in a planned trilogy, following the success of Lucifer (2019), and delves into a socio-political drama, with Mohanlal’s character, Khureshi-Ab’raam, at the centre.
The film also stars Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier, among others.
Apart from Malayalam, the film has also been released in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu. Murali Gopy penned the story of the film.
Recent films tagged as ‘propaganda’
In recent years, films like Kashmir Files, Kerala Story, Article 370, Sabarmati Report, and Savarkar, which have gained immense popularity on both public and political fronts, have also been tagged as “propaganda” by certain sections, including parties opposed to the BJP’s ideology.
Observers say the lineup represents a trend of Indian filmmakers taking up hard-hitting issues even if they may face accusations of toeing a political line or have their films banned in Gulf countries, as Article 370 was.
In the past few years, an initiative of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliates has also supported the ideation and creation of films like Samrat Prithviraj, The Kerala Story, Bastar: The Naxal Story, and The Kashmir Files, all of which, according to RSS functionaries, either emphasise cultural pride through nationalistic themes or expose hidden agendas of certain forces.