L2 Empuraan 2025

General Information

• • Title: L2: Empuraan (transl. Overlord; stylized as L2: E.M.P.U.R.A.A.N – Lucifer 2)

  • Language: Malayalam (dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi)

  • Genre: Action thriller

  • Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran

  • Writer: Murali Gopy

  • Production Companies: Aashirvad Cinemas, Lyca Productions, Sree Gokulam Movies

  • Budget: ₹180 crore (most expensive Malayalam film to date)

  • Release Date: 27 March 2025

  • Formats: Standard, IMAX, EPIQ (first Malayalam film in IMAX & EPIQ)

Cast

• • Mohanlal as Khureshi Ab’raam / Stephen Nedumpally

  • Prithviraj Sukumaran as Zayed Masood

  • Tovino Thomas as Jathin Ramdas

  • Manju Warrier as Priyadarshini Ramdas

  • Abhimanyu Singh as Balraj Patel / Baba Bajrangi

  • Indrajith Sukumaran as Govardhan

  • Andrea Tivadar as MI6 agent Michele Menuhin

  • Jerome Flynn as MI6 officer Boris Oliver

  • Suraj Venjaramoodu as Sajanachandran

  • Rick Yune (cameo) as Shen Triad leader

Plot Summary

• • Backstory: Explores Zayed Masood’s traumatic past during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

  • Present Timeline:

    • Jathin Ramdas (Tovino) resigns as Kerala CM, aligning with extremist leader Balraj Patel.

    • Stephen Nedumpally, now Khureshi Ab’raam, returns to dismantle global crime syndicates.

    • Political conspiracies, revenge, and a climactic showdown between Zayed and Balraj unfold.

  • Post-Credits Scene: Hints at L3: The Beginning, where the Shen Triad investigates Stephen’s past.

Production Highlights

• • Announcement: June 2019 (planned as a trilogy).

  • Delays: COVID-19 pandemic postponed filming to 2023.

  • Filming Locations: 145 days across India (Kerala, Gujarat, Ladakh), UK, USA, UAE.

  • Cinematography: Used anamorphic 2.8:1 aspect ratio, similar to Lucifer (2019).

  • Music: Deepak Dev (soundtrack); key singles “Phir Zinda” and “Kaavali Chevakar”.

Box Office & Reception

• • Records:

    • Highest opening day for a Malayalam film (₹65 crore).

    • Crossed ₹100 crore in just 2 days.

    • Highest pre-sales for a Malayalam film (₹85 crore worldwide).

  • Critical Response: Mixed reviews; praised for scale, Mohanlal & Prithviraj’s performances, but criticized for pacing.

Controversies

• • Political Backlash: RSS objected to the portrayal of villain Baba Bajrangi (linked to a 2002 riots convict).

  • Censorship Edits: Certain riot sequences and dialogues were trimmed post-release.

  • NIA Logo Issue: Used without authorization, later removed.

Sequel Confirmation

• • L3: The Beginning teased in post-credits, focusing on Stephen vs. Shen Triad.

Trivia

• • Initially conceived as a web series before evolving into a film trilogy.

  • Prithviraj contributed an original English song for the soundtrack.

  • First Malayalam film with a 24-hour non-stop screening (Ragam Theatre, Thrissur).

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