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
Telugumopo.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
Following the death of Kerala Chief Minister Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar), his adopted son Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal) takes over to deal with the political unrest and provide stability to the state. Having restored order to the state, Stephen nominates Jathin (Tovino Thomas), Ramdas’s real son, as the new Chief Minister and retires in secret.
Jathin, who was considered a bright future leader and one destined to carry forward his father’s legacy, has a different agenda. Rather than pursuing public causes, he intends to build a disputed check dam to earn fat commissions. His actions fuel more controversy when he leaves his father’s political party to join Baba Bhajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh), a top dog in national politics. These decisions cause turmoil, especially for his sister Priya (Manju Warrier), who is highly against the project of the dam. To save the interests of the people, Priya leads a protest but encounters strong hindrances on the way.
In the midst of the growing turmoil, Stephen makes a strong return to Kerala. The story reveals Stephen’s mysterious five-year vanishing act, his life as Abram Qureshi, a notorious underworld don, and the struggles he encountered in the world of crime. When he returns, Stephen has to deal with political corruption, family strife, and personal challenges to restore stability to the state and protect the people from looming catastrophe.
Review:
Mohanlal steals the show with his presence, and each scene he is in is gripping. His grand entry and authoritative dialogues are moments that will stay with the audience. Manju Warrier, while effective as a woman who desires justice, is hemmed in by a one-dimensional role that doesn’t permit her to make a mark.
Tovino Thomas, as Chief Minister, has energy and enthusiasm but is not deep as the character nor unpredictable as the performance. Abhimanyu Singh is good as the villain, but the performance is underwhelming, copying the roles that he has played before. Indrajith Sukumaran, Eriq Ebouaney, Jerome Flynn, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, and Suraj Venjaramoodu are passable in their supporting roles but fail to make a mark.
Director Prithviraj Sukumaran tries to elevate the Lucifer saga to a bigger level, interweaving political intrigue in Kerala with an international plot. Though the premise of the story is ambitious, the execution fails at many places.
The first half paces well with political unrest in Kerala and Mohanlal’s stylish entry as Abraam Qureshi culminating in a suspenseful cliffhanger. But the second half becomes draggy with too many repetitive turns, slowing down for predictable climaxes. The story would have worked better with tighter script writing and more interesting developments for keeping the audience engaged.
Deepak Dev’s background score gives a richness and intensity to the pivotal scenes, raising the dramatic value of the film. The production values are high.
L2: Empuraan provides stunning visuals and some powerful moments, courtesy mainly of Mohanlal’s stunning performance. Lucifer fans will enjoy the scope and ambition given to the sequel. The movie, however, is weighed down by its sluggish pace, using too many repetitive scenes, and failing to introduce new ideas, not quite meeting the standards of its predecessor.
For the ardent fans of Mohanlal, the film becomes a watchable experience due to his charismatic screen presence. As a sequel, though, Empuraan fails to provide an engaging and memorable movie experience.
