Not 17, but 24 cuts to Empuraan!! Reports suggest!!

Entertainment: Regarding the ‘Empuraan’ row, when it was widely reported that there would only be 17 cuts to the modified version of the movie, which irked the Sangh Pariwar factions, fresh reports suggest that the voluntary modifications made by the movie makers have gone through 24 cuts. It is learned that two minutes and eight seconds of length will be scissored from the new version, removing scenes, character names and visuals.

One of the main changes is the renaming of the main villain, “Baba Bajrangi”, to “Baldev” since the “Bajrangi” is a real person who was arrested and sentenced to life over his crimes related to the Gujarat riots. Further, the scenes mentioning the NIA, which could be expanded to the National Investigation Agency, have been muted while visuals showing brutality on women and dead bodies have been removed. There were shots that showed a religious symbol during the riot scenes, which were also removed.

Then, conversations between the villain and his aide, as well as Prithviraj’s character and his father, were cut.

Also, the makers removed the card, which extends thanks to Suresh Gopi, known actor cum BJP leader who is the MP from Kerala’s Thrissur. After the Sangh Pariwar backlash, Gopi, who assisted the filmmakers during the production, requested that his name be removed.

Kerala MPs John Brittas and Hibi Eden had earlier moved adjournment motions in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, respectively, over the burning ‘Empuraan’ row.

In the notice for adjournment motion, Brittas pointed out that freedom of expression is being suppressed in India while fundamental rights are being violated.

However, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected the notice for a discussion. Following this, the MPs sought at least half a minute for them to explain their demand. When that was also denied, the three MPs led by CPI's house party leader, P Santhosh Kumar, including Dr John Brittas and AA Rahim, made a walk-out in protest.