Murali Gopy quotes iconic Sholay dialogue as he dismisses ‘fear’ after Empuraan row: Jo dar ghaya…
Empuraan row: Though Mohanlal had apologised after the right-wing backlash, Murali Gopy had not publicly addressed the issue. Prithviraj Sukumaran had directed the Lucifer sequel.
Last Updated: 11.21 AM, Feb 01, 2026
The 2025 Malayalam film Empuraan was embroiled in a huge controversy with the right-wing sections up in arms against the Mohanlal-starrer. Directed by actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, Empuraan is written by actor-writer Murali Gopy. Though Mohanlal had apologised after the backlash, Murali Gopy had not publicly addressed the issue. During a recent event, Murali Gopy dismissed apprehensions about writing after the Empuraan row.
What Murali Gopy said about writing after Empuraan row
Empuraan, which is the sequel to the 2019 hit Lucifer, was re-censored after it was released in theatres and kicked up a storm over alleged anti-right-wing content. During a recent event and in conversation with Maneesh Narayanan of The Cue Studio, Murali Gopy was asked if he is apprehensive over writing as his last movie was censored again after theatrical release. But Murali Gopi was firm in his reply, that fear would mark the end of creativity.
“The moment one fears, it marks the end of creativity. We can only keep on writing. If we fear, then we cannot write. Jo dar ghaya samjo mar ghaya, is what Gabbar Singh said in the movie Sholya. You just see what is going to happen,” said the Empuraan writer, who is the son of the legendary yesteryear actor Bharat Gopy.
For the unversed, Sholay is a 1975 Hindi film, starring Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles. Actor Amjad Khan plays the ruthless villain Gabbar Singh.
What was Empuraan row about
The movie Empuraan delved into the changing political landscape in Kerala, while also depicting the riot incidents from north India. The portrayal of certain characters and riot scenes had kicked up a storm, grabbing national attention. The film’s lead actor Mohanlal had issued an apology soon after the row erupted.
Empuraan director Prithviraj had later addressed the issue, stating that he does not need to spend crores of rupees to make a political statement. Prithviraj also plays a key role in the film, which had a star-studded cast including Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Jerome Flynn, Andrea Tivadar, and Eriq Ebouaney.
Empuraan movie FAQs
Q. Where to watch Empuraan on OTT?
A. You can watch Empuraan, helmed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal plays the lead role.
Q. Is Empuraan hit or flop?
A. Empuraan is considered an industry hit. The Mohanlal film made Rs 266.81 crore at the worldwide box office, and is currently the second-highest-grossing Malayalam film.