'L2: Empuraan' Movie Review

‘L2: Empuraan' Movie Review

Cast: Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran and others

Music: Deepak Dev

Cinematography: Sujeeth Vasudev

Producers: Subhaskaran, Gokulam Gopalan, Anthony Perumbavoor

Written by: Murali Gopi

Directed by: Prithviraj Sukumaran

The 2019 Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer took the Malayalam tinsel town by storm, cementing itself as a massive hit. Its success even led to a Telugu remake, Chiranjeevi's Godfather. Now, director Prithviraj Sukumaran has expanded the universe with L2: Empuraan, bringing back Mohanlal in a much-anticipated sequel. Without making Telugu audiences wait for a remake, the original itself has hit the screens in its full glory. With sky-high expectations surrounding the film, let us see if L2: Empuraan delivered on its promise or not.

Story: Power, politics, and betrayal—L2: Empuraan takes the gripping narrative of Lucifer to the next level. The story picks up after the death of Kerala's Chief Minister, Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar), where his adopted son Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal) momentarily steps away from politics, leaving the CM's biological son, Jatin (Tovino Thomas) in charge. However, Jatin turns into a bad guy, going against the people's will and plans to build a massive dam project for personal benefit. Breaking away from his father's legacy, he aligns with the ruthless political leader Baba Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh). His sister Priya (Manju Warrier), unwilling to let their father's vision crumble, rises in protest and slips into deep trouble. And that's when Stephen, now known in the underworld as Abram Qureshi, is forced to return. Where has he been for five years? What forces has he been dealing with? How does he reclaim control and bring normalcy back to Kerala? forms the rest of the story.

Analysis: Prithviraj Sukumaran's L2: Empuraan tries to outdo Lucifer with scale rather with story. The interval episode sets the stage for what should have been a gripping second half. The hero, now a mafia don in a foreign land, walks into a high-stakes meeting with a rival gang while an Interpol team tries to kill both the gangs. Interpol detonates a bomb, bringing the entire building down and making everyone believe that Stephen is dead. Media reports confirm the same. As his allies mourn and enemies rejoice, and the audience is made to enjoy this shocking twist, the next scene reveals the Interpol officer discovering the hero's body is missing, and moments later, he resurfaces dramatically to save his sister. While this might have felt novel in Malayalam cinema, where content-driven films take centre stage, for Telugu audiences accustomed to grand elevations and high-stakes action, this is routine fare. Unlike Lucifer, which skillfully blended mass appeal with strong storytelling, L2 leans heavily on buildup rather than substance, making it a letdown.

In Lucifer, Mohanlal's entry is delayed by 40 minutes, but the narrative remains gripping until his arrival. The tension builds, the characters are well-established, and his eventual reveal delivers goosebumps. Twists keep the momentum going, and the suspense surrounding how he will overcome challenges keeps the audience engaged. But in L2, these elements are missing. The film starts with the hero as an all-powerful international don, only to later reduce his scope to state-level politics. When a character is introduced at such a peak, where do you go from there? Without real threats or obstacles at his level, there's little sense of struggle and conflict, thus making the story more bland.

Clocking in at three hours, L2 feels quite hollow. The international mafia subplot lacks intrigue, and the political drama in Kerala fails to create an impact. Excessive slow-motion shots bring some grandeur, but without a compelling narrative, they fall flat. Mohanlal's late entry only adds to the frustration, and once he does appear, his character has little to do beyond repetitive action sequences. The fights are stylish but lack emotional weight. Without a real sense of danger, the film fails to engage.

The film also mishandles its supporting characters. Tovino Thomas as antagonist is underwhelming but never had proper arc to add depth to the conflict. Manju Warrier, however, is one of the few bright spots, bringing intensity and emotion to an otherwise flat narrative.

In the end, L2: Empuraan is high on spectacle but low on storytelling. While Lucifer struck a fine balance between mass appeal and engaging drama, its sequel overindulges in elevation shots and grandeur at the cost of real depth. It may dazzle with its action, but it doesn't quite deliver the powerful impact that fans were expecting.

Performances: Mohanlal may be the face of L2: Empuraan, but ironically, he isn't its central figure. In a film that runs for three hours, his actual screen time feels minimal, making it seem like he appears for only a fraction of that duration. Instead, the narrative frequently shifts focus to other characters, with the story itself beginning and ending in the backdrop of Prithviraj's character-who, interestingly, also has limited screen time.

That said, whenever Mohanlal does step into the frame, his screen presence is undeniable. His aura commands attention, and there are a few well-crafted elevation moments and action sequences designed to please his fans. However, the film doesn't offer any standout scenes that truly showcase his acting prowess.

Among the supporting cast, Manju Warrier delivers one of the strongest performances, particularly in the scene where she takes control of the party. Tovino Thomas is engaging, though his character lacks depth. Abhimanyu Singh does a solid job as the antagonist, while Indrajith Sukumaran and the rest of the star-cast don't leave much of an impact.

While L2: Empuraan promises an expansive story, its treatment of characters, including Mohanlal's, feels somewhat restrained. It banks more on grand visuals and stylish moments rather than truly giving its star the space to shine.

Technicians: If there's one undeniable strength of L2: Empuraan, it's the technical finesse. The film boasts amazing production values, making every frame shine with grandeur. Shot across multiple locations, the visuals are rich and immersive, with Sujeeth Vasudev's cinematography standing out as one of the film's biggest assets. His lens captures the scale and intensity beautifully, ensuring a visually stunning experience.

Deepak Dev's background score does a commendable job of elevating the action sequences and hero moments, compensating for the absence of songs. However, beyond the technical brilliance, the film stumbles where it matters most, the storytelling.

Murali Gopi's writing lacks the gripping depth that made Lucifer compelling. The emotional core is weak, and the drama never quite takes off. While Prithviraj Sukumaran has crafted a visually impressive film, the narrative fails to engage on a deeper level. Despite having a solid premise, L2: Empuraan falls short due to its underdeveloped story, leaving it far from the gripping sequel many had hoped for.

Verdict:L2: Empuraan – High on Buildup, Low on Content!

Rating-2.25/5