'Spoke with Mallika Sukumaran, won't allow anyone to target individuals in the name of cinema'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister V. Sivankutty has stated that no one will be allowed to target individuals based on the content of a film. He reaffirmed the state's stance on protecting creative freedom, stressing that any form of pressure or cyberattacks will not be tolerated.

"I spoke with Mallika Sukumaran on the phone. Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and others are vital members of the Malayalam film industry, and I fully support them. Kerala values freedom of expression deeply, and we will continue to uphold this tradition," Sivankutty remarked.

He further added, "While Empuraan is a commercial film, it addresses certain historical issues directly. The Gujarat riots and the Godhra incident are well-documented events. The people of Kerala will not stand for anyone being attacked for speaking the truth. The Sangh Parivar must understand that Kerala is not Gujarat. The state will not allow any attack on the Empuraan team and will stand by them."

In related news, reports indicate that the re-edited version of Empuraan underwent 24 cuts, not 17 as previously reported. Among the changes, a scene showing vehicles passing in front of religious symbols was removed, and Union Minister Suresh Gopi's name was excluded from the thank you card.

Additionally, the dialogue between the main villain and another antagonist was cut, and any references to the NIA were muted. The main villain’s name was also changed from Bajrang to Baldev. These adjustments were confirmed in the re-editing documentation provided by the censor board. The film’s producers sought these changes following protests from Sangh Parivar groups.