Even as movie goers alleged that Empuraan, the film starring Mohanlal and which was released last Friday, is an attempt by director Prithviraj to spread lies about the Hindu community, Kerala’s Minister for Culture Saji Cherian has issued a clean chit to the movie. “It is the true portrayal of the communal riots and there is no justification for the agitation by a section of the audience demanding the deletion of certain scenes. It is the violation of freedom of expression granted in the Constitution,” said Cherian while speaking to the media on Monday.

Contrary to what Mohanlal had said in his social media post that he has not seen the movie, he had said in one of the promotional programmes of Empuraan that he watched the movie.

“This is a movie which I saw and liked. Now it is your turn to watch it. I leave it for you,” Mohanlal has said during the programme. Though director Prithviraj and Mohanlal had made it known that the movie has no links with the Godhra riots in Gujarat, the supporters of the movie are of the view that it is the real life story.

Jeo Baby, a director with close links to the church and vehement opponent of Hindutva politics, said that Empuraan has successfully recounted the communal riots that took place in Godhra post-the burning of Sabarmati Express in which 59 people were burnt alive. Baby’s reaction contradicts what Mohanlal said in his social message posting on Sunday.

Ashiq Abu, the new General Director, who heads a cabal of movie makers specialised in making movies critical of Hindus, too came out in support of Empuraan and questioned the propriety of deleting scenes as per the diktat of social media users.

Actor Asif Ali too expressed his shock over the decision of the makers of Empuraan to capitulate in front of on-line media.

“The Gujarat riots were the fall out of setting two compartments of Sabarmati Express ablaze. The movie is silent about this part and chose to picturise it as a pre-planned pogrom of the Muslim community. Moreover the villains spot names like Bajrang and this is also done with ulterior motives,” said P Sujathan, author and former journalist with Kerala Kaumudi.

Another controversy has erupted about the collection made by the movie. Industry veterans questioned the claims of the producers that the movie has grossed `50 crore in three days from 800 cinemas where it is screened.