Mallika Sukumaran, the mother of actor and filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, has always been a strong pillar of support for her son. Recently, she stepped forward once again to defend him amid the ongoing controversy surrounding his latest film, Empuraan. Just as she stood by her children after the untimely passing of her husband, legendary actor Sukumaran, in 1997, Mallika is now shielding her son from the negativity surrounding his film.
Allegations of Sabotage in the Film Industry
Mallika has alleged that Prithviraj has several enemies within the film industry. She claims that certain insiders attempted to sabotage the release of L2: Empuraan, fearing that his growing success could pose a threat to them. She even suggested that a token strike, which some film organizations had considered for March 27—the same day as Empuraan‘s premiere—was a part of this alleged scheme.
She took to social media to assert that neither actor Mohanlal nor the film’s main producer, Antony Perumbavoor, would accuse Prithviraj of betrayal. Instead, she expressed concern over the negativity aimed at her son.
Mammootty’s Unexpected Support
In the midst of this turmoil, Mallika revealed that veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty was the only person from the film industry who reached out to comfort her. Despite being on a shooting break and the fact that it was the eve of Eid, Mammootty took the time to send her a heartfelt message of support.
“Despite it being Eid eve, Mammootty messaged me. He saw my Facebook post and told me not to worry. He knows that all this would hurt me. Mammootty is an artiste with a conscience who understands that if something negative appears somewhere about my children, it would cause me distress. I will never forget this. I told my children not to forget this (Mammootty’s gesture) either. He is the only person from the industry who sent me a message with a word of comfort yesterday. When I saw his text, my eyes filled with tears,” Mallika shared in an interview with Manorama News.
The Controversy Surrounding Empuraan
Despite Empuraan’s tremendous box office success—it has already grossed Rs 200 crore worldwide within five days—the film continues to face backlash. The controversy primarily revolves around scenes that depict the 2002 Gujarat riots, which have sparked debates over their portrayal.
To address these concerns, the filmmakers decided to make cuts to the film. Approximately three minutes of footage were removed from the version currently being screened in theatres worldwide.
