L2: Empuraan
| L2: Empuraan | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Prithviraj Sukumaran |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Murali Gopy |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Deepak Dev |
| Cinematography | Sujith Vaassudev |
| Edited by | Akhilesh Mohan |
Production company |
|
| Distributed by | see below |
Release date |
|
Running time | 179 minutes[a] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Budget |  [4][5] |
| Box office | [b] |
L2: Empuraan (meaning "Overlord"; stylised as L2: E.M.P.U.R.A.A.N; marketed as L2E) is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller movie. It was directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and written by Murali Gopy. The movie was produced by Antony Perumbavoor, Subaskaran Allirajah and Gokulam Gopalan.[5]
This movie is the second part of the Lucifer series and a sequel to the 2019 film Lucifer. It stars Mohanlal and a large cast including Prithviraj Sukumaran, Abhimanyu Singh, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Jerome Flynn and Andrea Tivadar.[5]
The first film was planned as a three-part series. After the first film was a success, this second part was made. It was announced in June 2019 but filming was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The writer expanded the story. The script was finished in July 2022. Filming started in October 2023 and ended in December 2024. Filming took place in India, the United Kingdom, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.[5]
The movie was made with a budget of about ₹175 crore.[5] It was released on 27 March 2025 in regular and IMAX theaters.[8] Even though there was some controversy, the movie got mostly good reviews. It became the highest-earning Malayalam film ever and the third highest-earning Indian film of 2025.[9]
Plot
In 2002, communal riots happen in Gujarat between Hindus and Muslims. A young boy named Zayed Masood and his family escape to a woman named Subhadra Ben for safety. Her nephew Munna tells his brother Balraj, a Hindu extremist leader, about them. Balraj leads a group that kills Zayed's family and Subhadra Ben.[10]
Zayed escapes with his younger brother Zaheer but later finds Zaheer dead.[5]
Six years later, Jathin Ramdas is the Chief Minister of Kerala. He faces corruption investigations. His sister Priyadarshini is worried. A new right-wing party called Akhanda Shakthi Morcha (ASM) is becoming powerful. Jathin quits his party and starts a new group allied with ASM, led by Balraj (now called Baba Bajrangi).[5]
Govardhan investigates Stephen Nedumpally, the adopted son of P. K. Ramdas, who disappeared after Jathin took power.[11]
In the UK, MI6 agent Boris Oliver chases a criminal group. Interpol officer Robert McCarthy secretly helps drug traffickers but is stopped by Khureshi, who kills McCarthy and his partners.[12]
Govardhan finds Stephen living under a new name, Khureshi Ab'raam, in New York. Stephen plans to come back to India to fight crime groups with help from Zayed.[13]
Priyadarshini protests against a dam and is attacked but saved by Stephen. Stephen helps Priyadarshini become the new leader of their party.[5]
Priyadarshini is arrested but gains public support. Jathin is kidnapped by Khureshi's group until Priyadarshini is freed.[14]
Zayed was radicalised as a child but saved by Khureshi, who promised to help him get revenge.[5]
Stephen and Zayed plan a final fight against Balraj and Munna at the place where Zayed's family was killed. They kill them both.[5]
Priyadarshini starts her political campaign. Khureshi forces Jathin to support Priyadarshini or die. Jathin agrees.[15]
A crime syndicate kills Boris. Jathin is killed in a bomb blast.[5]
In a post-credits scene, the leader of a new crime group shows interest in Khureshi, hinting at the next movie.[16]
Cast
- Mohanlal as Khureshi-Ab'raam / Stephen Nedumpally
- Pranav Mohanlal as Young Khureshi-Ab'raam / Stephen Nedumpally (cameo)
- Prithviraj Sukumaran as Zayed Masood
- Karthikeya Dev as Young Zayed Masood
- Abhimanyu Singh as Balraj Patel / Baba Bajrangi
- Tovino Thomas as CM Jathin Ramdas
- Manju Warrier as Priyadarshini Ramdas
- Indrajith Sukumaran as Govardhan
- Jerome Flynn as Boris Oliver
- Andrea Tivadar as Michele Menuhin
- Saikumar as Mahesha Varma
- Baiju Santhosh as Murugan
- Suraj Venjaramoodu as Sajanachandran
- Kishore as Karthik
- Sukant Goel as Munna
- Eriq Ebouaney as Kabuga
- Fazil as Father Nedumpally
- Sachin Khedekar as P. K. Ramdas (cameo)
- Nandhu as P. S. Peethambaran
- Shivaji Guruvayoor as Medayil Rajan
- Aneesh G. Menon as Sumesh
- Manikuttan as Mani
- Saniya Iyappan as Jhanvi
- Nyla Usha as Arundhathi Sanjeev
- Giju John as Sanjeev Kumar
- Murugan Martin as Muthu
- Sshivada as Sreelekha
- Nikhat Khan as Subhadra Ben
- Alexx O'Nell as Robert McCarthy
- Mikhail Novikov as Sergei Leonov
- Satyajit Sharma as Masood
- Oziel Jivani as Zaheer Masood
- Aishwarya Ohja as Haniya
- Nayan Bhatt as Suraiya Bibi
- Shubhangi Latkar as Bahija Begum
- Behzaad Khan as Salabath Hamza
- Shaun Romy as Aparna
- Jaise Jose as Xavier
- Kalabhavan Shajohn as Aloshy Joseph (flashback)
- Antony Perumbavoor as Daniel Rawther (cameo)
- Aashish Joe Antony as Antony Rawther (cameo)
- Rick Yune as Shenlong Shen (cameo)
Notes
References
- ↑ Empuraan (Lucifer 2). Central Board of Film Certification (6 March 2025). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ↑ Praveen, S. R.. Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan gets 24 'voluntary cuts' totalling 2.08 minutes after right-wing backlash. The Hindu (April 2025). Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ Complete list of 24 cuts imposed by CBFC in L2 Empuraan after controversy. Bollywood Hungama (April 2025). Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Saiyaara becomes 2nd biggest movie of 2025; THESE are top 10 highest-grossing movies of the year (in en). The Financial Express (2025-07-26). Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Empuraan budget revealed; Mohanlal-Prithviraj's actioner is March's only profitable Malayalam film among 15 releases. The Indian Express (2025-04-27). Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ↑ Thudarum OTT release date: When and where to watch Malayalam blockbuster movie starring Mohanlal online. Mint (27 May 2025). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ↑ Wadhwa, Aman. Thudarum OTT release date: When, where to watch Mohanlal-starrer blockbuster Malayalam film (in en). DNA India. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ↑ L2 Empuraan release date announced. 27 March 2025. https://www.news18.com/news/movies/l2-empuraan-movie-release-date-announced-6465269.html. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ↑ "L2 Empuraan box office collection day 2: Fastest Malayalam film to cross ₹100 crore" (in en-us). Hindustan Times. 29 March 2025. https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/l2-empuraan-worldwide-box-office-collection-day-2-mohanlal-film-is-the-fastest-malayalam-film-to-cross-100-crore-101743229690067.html. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ↑ Plot summary from official sources. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ↑ Character details and plot points. The Hindu. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ↑ Story background. The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ↑ Plot and characters explained. The Financial Express. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ↑ Plot summary and developments. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-04-01.[dead link]
- ↑ Final plot points. The Hindu. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ↑ Post credits scene explained. Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 2025-04-01.