Movie Name : L2: Empuraan
Release Date : March 27, 2025
Cast : Mohan Lal, Prithvirraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Abhimanyu Singh, Eriq Ebouaney, Jerome Flynn, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh and Suraj Venjaramoodu etc.
Director : Prithviraj Sukumaran
Music Director : Deepak Dev
Andhrawatch.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
Kerala’s politics changes dramatically as Chief Minister Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) decides to split away from the ruling party and establish his political party. Behind him in this ambitious endeavor is the mysterious Baba Bajrangi, alias Balraj (Abhimanyu Singh). But this daring step creates tension in his own family, with his sister Priyadarshini Ramdas (Manju Warrier) vehemently against his decision, creating a rift full of ideological clashes.
Amidst this rising chaos, Khureshi Abram, better known as Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal), makes a strong re-entry into the world of politics. Though his return is to balance the chaos, his supposed involvement with a drug syndicate gives rise to suspicions and introduces complexities to the narrative.
Will Stephen’s return to the political arena redefine Kerala’s destiny? What is the origin of his hatred for Balraj? And how is Zayed Masood (Prithviraj Sukumaran) related to the drama that unfolds? Watch this riveting story of power, deceit, and intrigue on the big screen, where each turn leaves you gripping the edge of your seat.
Review:
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s long-awaited directorial effort, L2: Empuraan, is a visual feast that outdoes itself in scale, breathtaking action scenes, and lavish production values. The sequel to Lucifer reintroduces the magic of larger-than-life cinema, providing some breathtaking moments that will leave the fans agog.
The heart of the movie is Mohanlal’s authoritative screen presence. His performance is a masterclass in intensity, with dialogues full of power and emotive expressions that take the story forward. Standout sequences such as the very thrilling forest fight and his magnificent entry scenes are guaranteed to be crowd-pullers, putting his name in the list of India’s greatest actors.
Manju Warrier adds depth and conviction to her character, and Tovino Thomas gives a good performance in spite of his character not being as deep as the fans would have liked. Prithviraj, in spite of limited screen space, makes his presence felt and leaves an indelible mark. The visual splendor of the film, especially the high-octane church fight scene, is a take from Hollywood’s grandeur and speaks volumes about Prithviraj’s understanding of cinematic greatness.
While its visual grandeur, L2: Empuraan fails to construct an engrossing narrative. In contrast to Lucifer, which balanced action beautifully with an interesting story, this sequel over-relies on character upgrades at the expense of plot depth. Murali Gopy’s script, though ambitious, is unbalanced, and the pacing of the story suffers, with the runtime testing the patience of the audience in some places.
The film’s large number of characters is yet another weak point, with most appearing underdeveloped or redundant. Tovino Thomas and Indrajith Sukumaran’s characters are a good example of this, as they don’t carry the narrative heft to leave a lasting impact. The plot’s complexity sometimes confuses viewers, making it more difficult for them to remain interested. Pre-climax and climax portions that are predictable also weaken the film’s impact.
Prithviraj’s direction excels in bringing out awe-inspiring moments, particularly Mohanlal’s grand entry and character-based elevations. But a tighter grip on the screenplay would have made a big difference to the overall impact of the film.
Technically, Sujith Vaassudev’s camerawork is the pick of the crop, capturing the grandeur of the film with ease. Deepak Dev’s music is good but fails to stay with you. Editing, though, could have been tighter, as cutting some scenes would have tightened the film’s pace. Production values are unquestionably of the best standard, and Telugu dubbing makes the movie reach more people.
L2: Empuraan is a bold follow-up that amazes with its visual grandeur and over-the-top moments. Mohanlal’s outstanding performance and the spectacular action scenes are enough to make it a must-see for franchise fans. But the absence of an engrossing story and the pace may not satisfy general viewers. Viewers with moderate expectations for the film will find the movie’s cinematic treat enjoyable.
For Mohanlal and epic action drama fans, L2: Empuraan is full of moments of brilliance but falls short of developing the emotional and narrative depth which made its prequel, Lucifer, a classic.