L2: Empuraan review – A grand yet overindulgent follow-up to Lucifer

L2: Empuraan, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer, arrives with immense expectations. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film continues the saga of Khureshi Ab’ram (Mohanlal), the enigmatic leader of an international crime syndicate, who is drawn back to Kerala amidst betrayals and political turmoil. While Lucifer blended political intrigue with mass appeal, L2: Empuraan aims for an even larger scope and international expansion. However, in its quest to be grander, it often loses the taut, engaging narrative that made its predecessor so compelling.

A Standalone Sequel That Struggles with Its Identity

Set five years after Lucifer, L2: Empuraan is designed as both a sequel and a standalone entry, broadening the universe while exploring Khureshi Ab’ram’s past and the current political unrest in Kerala. The film retains the political backdrop that fueled Lucifer, but instead of focusing on tight storytelling, it leans heavily into world-building.

While the political conspiracies and power struggles remain engaging, the screenplay, penned by Murali Gopy, becomes overindulgent. Unlike Lucifer, where every plot point had a direct impact, L2: Empuraan often meanders, struggling to maintain a consistent balance between its expansive scope and core narrative.

Prithviraj’s Direction: A Double-Edged Sword

Prithviraj Sukumaran, returning as director, showcases a clear vision for turning L2: Empuraan into a sprawling cinematic spectacle. The film spans multiple continents, featuring international characters, large-scale action sequences, and a crime network that extends far beyond Kerala’s borders. However, the sheer ambition sometimes overshadows the storytelling.

The action sequences are stylish but overly drawn out, with excessive slow-motion shots and elaborate drone cinematography. While some sequences effectively build tension, others drag on, making the 180-minute runtime feel bloated.

Murali Gopy’s Script: Clever or Overindulgent?

Murali Gopy’s writing is both the film’s strength and its weakness. L2: Empuraan is packed with layered dialogues and grandiose statements, but at times, the script tries too hard to be profound. The dialogue often resembles a collection of quotable lines rather than natural conversations. This issue was also evident in Tiyaan (2017), where ambitious themes were let down by an over-stylized screenplay.

The political themes and world-building are intriguing, but the film struggles to integrate them seamlessly with its action-heavy sequences. Unlike Lucifer, where every narrative thread served a purpose, L2: Empuraan sometimes feels distracted by its own grandeur.

Mohanlal’s Commanding Presence

If there is one element that holds L2: Empuraan together, it is Mohanlal’s performance. Despite a screenplay that doesn’t always serve his character well, he effortlessly dominates every scene. His nuanced dialogue delivery adds weight to even the more theatrical moments.

A standout scene between Mohanlal and Indrajith Sukumaran’s character, Govardhan, highlights the actor’s ability to infuse minimal dialogue with intensity. However, it’s unfortunate that the film doesn’t utilize him as effectively as Lucifer did.

The supporting cast, including Manju Warrier, Abhimanyu Singh, Jerome Flynn, and Eriq Ebouaney, add depth to the film. Warrier’s character has a more substantial role this time, while Abhimanyu Singh makes for a formidable antagonist. The only weak link is Andrea Tivadar, whose performance feels miscast and lacks the intensity required for her role.

Technical Brilliance Undermined by Overindulgence

On a technical level, L2: Empuraan is a visual spectacle. Sujith Vaassudev’s cinematography captures the grandeur of international locations, and the production design is top-notch. However, the overuse of slow-motion and stylized action sequences weakens the impact of certain key moments.

Deepak Dev’s background score, while occasionally effective, does not consistently enhance the mass appeal. The music lacks the power needed to elevate crucial scenes, making some action sequences feel underwhelming instead of thrilling.

Where L2: Empuraan Shines

Despite its flaws, L2: Empuraan has moments of brilliance. The opening flashback sequence is particularly gripping, setting up the film’s antagonist in a compelling manner. The exploration of Kerala’s political dynamics adds layers to the story, even though it lacks the sharp execution of Lucifer.

Additionally, the film lays the groundwork for future installments, teasing a larger confrontation in the next chapter of the franchise.

A Sequel That Falls Short of Its Predecessor

L2: Empuraan is not a failure, but it struggles to step out of Lucifer’s shadow. It attempts to be bigger and more ambitious, yet in doing so, it loses the sharp storytelling and tight screenplay that made Lucifer a landmark film.

For fans of the franchise, L2: Empuraan offers an intriguing continuation, but it lacks the finesse needed to surpass its predecessor. It sets up exciting possibilities for the third film, but as a standalone entry, it remains an ambitious yet flawed follow-up.