Review – L2: Empuraan

L2: Empuraan is the highly anticipated sequel to the hit 2019 film Lucifer. This action drama features Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, and Tovino Thomas in lead roles, with Prithviraj Sukumaran both acting and directing the film. Read our review to find out if it lives up to the hype.

Plot

The story begins with Kerala CM Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) breaking away from his party to form a new alliance with Baba Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh), sparking opposition from his sister, Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier). Meanwhile, Khureshi Ab’raam, aka Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal), returns to restore order while also facing global challenges and a clash with the deadly Kabooga cartel. How Stephen handles the political chaos forms the crux of the story.

Performances

Mohanlal is the heart and soul of the film and as expected, he delivered a top-notch performance. Though his role isn’t lengthy, he made it very impactful with his powerful screen presence. The simple yet meaningful dialogues written for his role and the way he delivered them worked a great deal in the favour of the film.

Manju Warrier shines in a well-defined role, with her screen presence adding intrigue. In Empuraan, she plays a meaningful character that leaves an impression. Prithviraj Sukumaran has limited screen time but does justice to his role. Abhimanyu Singh, however, tends to go over the top with his performance.

Technical Aspects

The production values are among the best in Malayalam cinema. Every penny spent is evident on screen, with grand visuals and stylish execution. However, the same cannot be said for the editing, as Empuraan runs for three hours—longer than necessary. The lengthy runtime occasionally tests the audience’s patience.

The Telugu dubbing is well done, and the dialogues are effective. However, the screenplay is only average, lacking the nuanced storytelling that made Lucifer so compelling. Deepak Dev’s background score feels a bit loud at times and lacks the impact expected. On the bright side, Sujith Vaassudev’s cinematography is outstanding and stands out as the film’s strongest technical aspect.

Positives:

High production values
Mohanlal’s screen presence
Lavish action sequences
Visuals

Negatives:

Slow-paced narration
Predictable storyline
Lack of solid drama

Analysis

Lucifer was a blockbuster, raising expectations for Empuraan. While the sequel looks visually superior, the writing falls short. Murali Gopy’s story is straightforward, and it’s evident that the makers aimed to capitalize on the sequel’s hype rather than focus on deep storytelling.

In terms of mass appeal, Empuraan delivers. It features Mohanlal’s grand entry, heroic moments, international mafia elements, and everything needed for a large-scale action drama. However, the half-baked narration weakens the experience. Unlike Lucifer, which had a strong storyline, gripping drama, and unexpected twists, Empuraan leans more on style than substance.

Director Prithviraj takes too long to establish the core plot, making the world-building feel slow and tedious, especially for non-Malayalam audiences. Additionally, the film overindulges in character elevations, making the narrative feel dragged out. This dilutes the impact of genuinely good moments.

On a technical level, Prithviraj succeeds in delivering a stylish action spectacle, excelling in stunt execution, VFX, and visuals. However, the character of Tovino Thomas feels underdeveloped and somewhat forced into the story. With too many characters, most remain underutilized. A shorter runtime with a tighter narrative and fewer characters would have significantly improved the film.

Ultimately, L2: Empuraan feels like a film made to cash in on the Lucifer brand. There’s no doubt it is grand, stylish, and packed with action, but the emotional depth that made Lucifer special is missing. Watch it only if you enjoy action-packed films, which have become a common trend in Malayalam cinema.

Bottom line: A Very ‘Unlike’ Malayalam Cinema

Rating: 2.5/5