Prithviraj breaks silence on ‘Empuraan’ row, says film was made only to entertain

Prithviraj Sukumaran has addressed the controversies surrounding ‘Empuraan’, the second instalment of the Mohanlal-starrer ‘Lucifer’. Speaking to Manorama News, the director clarified that both the lead actor and the film’s producer were fully aware of the script from the beginning. He said his only intention was to make a film that entertained the audience, not a work aimed at delivering political messages.

Prithviraj explained that he had approached the project without any hidden agenda. He heard the story, liked it, and later narrated the screenplay in detail to both the producer and Mohanlal. According to him, everyone involved understood what kind of film they were making, and the movie was crafted on that shared understanding. He added that, as a filmmaker, his only aim was to create an engaging experience for viewers. If the film failed to achieve that goal, he considered it a shortcoming on his part as a director.

He also clarified that he would never make a film solely to voice political opinions. In today’s environment, he said, one does not need to invest crores of rupees in a film to convey a political stance, as a simple statement on social media would suffice. As long as he remained honest with himself and confident about his intentions, he felt there was no reason to feel guilty or fearful about his creative choices.

‘Empuraan’ had faced significant backlash after its depiction of events such as the Gujarat riots. The controversy eventually led to the removal of certain scenes. Adding to the debate, director Major Ravi later claimed that Mohanlal had not heard the full story of the film before shooting, a statement that further fuelled discussions among viewers and industry insiders. While Prithviraj’s mother, Mallika Sukumaran, had responded earlier to some of these remarks, Prithviraj himself had chosen not to comment until now.

With his latest clarification, Prithviraj has attempted to put the discussion to rest, emphasising that ‘Empuraan’ was made with transparency and with the singular purpose of engaging its audience.