'Why Empuraan is subjected to censorship cuts while The Kerala Story was not?' some scenes and references to be removed from film

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's Education Minister V. Sivankutty questioned why Empuraan was subjected to censorship cuts while The Kerala Story, which portrayed Kerala in a defamatory manner, was not. He stated that the Gujarat riots and the Godhra incident are part of Indian history, and no matter how much one tries to cover them up or edit them out, future generations will continue to see and learn about them.

He further criticised the threats and cyberattacks against the actors and crewmembers of the film over the film's content. He said that those who resort to such actions are afraid of the truth. The minister asserted that censoring content just because it doesn't align with one's views reflects a fascist mindset. He emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental pillar of democracy and that any attempt to suppress it must be resisted.

Meanwhile, as controversies surrounding Empuraan intensified, the makers decided to make changes to the movie. The producers have voluntarily approached the censor board to modify over 17 scenes.

Certain scenes and references will be removed, while some dialogues will be muted. Changes will be made to scenes depicting the Gujarat riots and violence against women. The villain’s character name, Bajrangi, will also be altered. Additionally, portions related to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will have muted content. The modifications are expected to be completed by Monday, after which a new censor board team will review the edited version of the film.

Meanwhile, the Congress party also criticised the BJP's stance on Empuraan. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal MP stated that the BJP's criticism of Empuraan is a reflection of the intolerance of the Sangh Parivar. He made these remarks while addressing the media after visiting the protest venue of Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers in front of the Secretariat.