Jailer 2: Producer Antony Perumbavoor says Malayalis are unhappy with Mohanlal’s reduced screen time

Mohanlal (Pic/X)

At the launch of Mohanlal's upcoming film, tentatively titled L368, producer Antony Perumbavoor addressed the removal of the superstar's scenes from Rajinikanth's Jailer 2. Expressing disappointment over the decision, Antony's remarks come amid criticism from fans and Mohanlal's costume designer over his reduced screen time.

Antony Perumbavoor on Mohanlal's deleted scenes from Jailer 2

When asked about Mohanlal's chopped scenes in Jailer 2, the producer smiled politely and said, "That is not a source of happiness for us Malayalis. We, too, share that lack of happiness." When reporters pointed out that fans had at least expected the scenes shown in the trailer to feature in the film, the producer reiterated his disappointment before leaving. His response was interpreted by some fans as an indication that Mohanlal's team may not have known about the cuts before the film's release.

Talking about Antony, he began his career as Mohanlal's chauffeur and assistant in the 1980s and later established himself as one of Malayalam cinema's prominent producers.

About Mohanlal's scenes being cut

Mohanlal reprises Mathew, the flashy smuggler and friend of Rajinikanth's Muthuvel Pandian, whom he first played in the 2023 film Jailer. In the sequel, his character appears during the climax. After the release, his costume designer revealed how the actor's scenes were cut from the film. Jishad Shamsudeen publicly called out the film's makers, claiming that three distinct looks created for the Malayalam superstar were removed from the final cut. He has also said he would not be part of a possible third instalment.

While many have been complaining about the superstar's short runtime in the film, several theories have been doing the rounds about Mohanlal using a body double to shoot key scenes. Amid the rumours and controversy, the film's action director, Chethan Ramshi D'Souza, and Mohanlal's body double, Jobi Kodakara, reacted. While appearing on the Jango Space YouTube channel, Jobi stated that his contribution was limited to a few shots involving his hands and legs.

Jobi explained, "Only one or two shots featuring me have been used in the film, to be honest, only parts of my hands and legs are visible. These appear in the airport scene during the climax. There is a shot of someone changing gears while driving, and another showing someone pressing the accelerator."