Mohanlal has once again proven why he remains a dominant force in Malayalam cinema. After a nine-year wait, the veteran actor, who earlier set the benchmark for industry hits in Mollywood, has broken his own record with the release of Empuraan. This political action-thriller, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and serving as the sequel to Lucifer, is now officially the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever, surpassing the lifetime collection of the previously reigning box office hit, Manjummel Boys.
Despite facing controversies and a mixed critical reception, Empuraan has managed to pull off a remarkable feat at the box office. The film’s script was penned by Murali Gopy, and it was released worldwide on March 27 to record-breaking numbers. The success of this film marks a significant moment for Mohanlal’s fans, who had been awaiting such a breakthrough. After several years without a monumental box office win, they are now celebrating what they consider a triumphant return for their beloved star.
Even though Empuraan received mixed reviews and struggled in dubbed versions across other languages, the original Malayalam version has been dominating the box office. Within just ten days of its release, the film collected a staggering Rs 250 crore. This box office performance has made it the biggest Mollywood grosser ever.
Sharing his excitement with fans, Mohanlal took to social media to express his gratitude. “#L2E #Empuraan now reigns as the highest-grossing film in Malayalam cinema history,” he wrote.
This new accomplishment adds to Mohanlal’s already impressive list of industry hits. Since the year 2000, five out of the ten top-grossing Mollywood films have featured Mohanlal. These include Narasimham (2000), Twenty20 (2008), which also starred Mammootty and Suresh Gopi, Drishyam (2013), Pulimurugan (2016), and now Empuraan. Each of these films set new records during their respective releases and reaffirmed Mohanlal’s status as a box office heavyweight.
Mohanlal’s track record of delivering massive hits dates back even further, with eleven projects from 1980 onwards achieving massive success. Among these early hits are Irupatham Nootandu (1987), Chithram (1988), Kilukkam (1991), Manichithrathazhu (1993), and Aaram Thampuran (1997). His ability to consistently attract audiences to theaters has helped shape the trajectory of Malayalam cinema over the past several decades.
A significant reason behind Empuraan‘s phenomenal success is its grand scale and production value. The movie was made on a massive budget of Rs 180 crore, positioning it among the most expensive productions in Malayalam cinema history. Impressively, it recovered more than its entire budget and reached Rs 250 crore in earnings even before completing two full weekends in Indian theaters.
The film’s success isn’t limited to India alone. The Malayalam version has been performing well in Gulf countries and several other international markets. The global appeal and reach of the movie have contributed significantly to its overall box office figures.
The production journey of Empuraan itself was ambitious. It was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic and filmed in numerous locations across the globe. The crew shot scenes in Indian cities such as Kerala, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Faridabad, Haryana, Shimla, and Ladakh, as well as international locations including New York, New Mexico, Louisiana, Atlanta, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. With such an expansive shooting schedule, Empuraan holds the distinction of being the first Malayalam film to be shot across so many different places on multiple continents.
Remarkably, the film’s shooting was wrapped up in just 145 days—28 days ahead of the originally scheduled timeline. Adding to the uniqueness of this production, both director Prithviraj Sukumaran and lead actor Mohanlal did not take any remuneration for their work. Instead, they opted for a profit-sharing model, ensuring that every rupee spent went into making the film itself.
Empuraan picks up five years after the events of Lucifer, exploring the aftermath of the Khureshi-Ab’Raam nexus. The world is once again plunged into a socio-political crisis that promises to be transformational. This gripping premise sets the stage for yet another high-stakes confrontation, blending action and political intrigue.
The film features a star-studded cast led by Mohanlal. Prithviraj Sukumaran reprises his role as Zayed Masood, while Tovino Thomas plays Jathin Ramdas. Other prominent actors in the film include Manju Warrier as Priyadarshini Ramdas, Abhimanyu Singh as Balraj, Indrajith Sukumaran as Govardhan, and international stars like Jerome Flynn as Boris Oliver and Eriq Ebouaney as Kabuga.
The ensemble also includes Kishore as Karthik, Andrea Tivadar as Michele Menuhin, Suraj Venjaramoodu as Sajanachandran, Saikumar as Mahesha Varma, Baiju Santhosh as Murugan, Fazil as Father Nedumpally, Sachin Khedekar as PK Ramdas, and Saniya Iyappan as Jhanvi. The film also features Nyla Usha, Giju John, Nandhu, Shivaji Guruvayoor, Manikuttan, Aneesh G. Menon, Sshivada, Alexx O’Nell, Satyajit Sharma, Shubhangi Latkar, Nikhat Khan, and Jaise Jose in various key roles.
Behind the scenes, the film boasts an equally talented crew. The cinematography was handled by Sujith Vaassudev, whose visuals bring the large-scale vision to life. Editing was done by Akhilesh Mohan, ensuring the complex narrative was tightly woven. The music and background score, which play a crucial role in intensifying the film’s atmosphere, were composed by Deepak Dev. As with the previous installment, Murali Gopy provided both the story and screenplay.
With its compelling storyline, remarkable cast, and visionary production, Empuraan has not only lived up to expectations but exceeded them. The film’s critical and commercial success further cements Mohanlal’s legacy as a central figure in Malayalam cinema. It also establishes Empuraan as a cultural phenomenon, resonating with audiences far beyond Kerala.
As the film continues to rake in impressive numbers, fans and industry watchers alike are waiting to see how far it will go. For now, it’s safe to say that Empuraan has achieved legendary status, adding another glorious chapter to the legacy of Mohanlal.
The contestants will be judged in four categories, based on one’s Poise, Personality, Presentation, Performance, Style, Appearance, Intelligence and Confidence.
In the past five years, since he launched the movement to save the Earth from the effects of Batteries, Sri Nihal Tammana has been instrumental in recycling as many as 625,000+ batteries, preventing hazardous waste from polluting landfills. He has helped educate 40 million people through school programs, corporate workshops, and media outreach.
Nihal’s mission has come to be recognized, winning him and his non-profit organization, Recycle My Battery, dozens of accolades and awards. Sri Nihal has been featured on CNN, BBC, TEDx, and several other major media platforms, helping to spread awareness globally.
Nihal plans to major in environmental science in college and eventually invent his own eco-friendly battery. “I want to study Physics and Chemistry and learn about the environmental impacts on the Earth like climate change and everything. So I can use all this to make my own eco-friendly battery, which will use 0% of harmful chemicals and it will be able to be thrown away into the trash. So, it will be good for performance and for all of us to enjoy all the environment and the Earth will also enjoy it as well as it will be very sustainable. I will learn more engineering and environmental science so I can use all the things which I’ve learned to benefit all.”
Richa, the woman at the heart of this story, enters marriage with dreams that feel close enough to touch. She wants to dance. She has ambition, drive, and a sense of who she is. But in her new home, none of that matters. There are other priorities—meals to cook, chores to finish, duties to fulfil. Slowly, without her even realizing it, the things that made her feel alive are pushed aside. Not taken away, not forbidden, just made impossible. It is a story about the moment a woman realizes that she has been conditioned to shrink herself, to prioritize everyone else before even thinking about what she wants. And once that realization sets in, what comes next?
witnessed, and for many women, experiences they’ve lived through. It speaks to those who have watched their own ambitions take a backseat, who have been made to feel that asking for more is selfish, who have learned to apologize for simply wanting to be seen. And yet, at its core, the film is not about despair, it is about possibility. It is about the hope that comes from recognizing that things can be different. That choosing yourself is not a betrayal. That a woman does not cease to be an individual the moment she becomes a wife.
For those of us who grew up in the 1960s and 70s as students, cinemas were a very different type of culture. Very different from today. First, with no television, no computers, no internet, no video games, with only the government controlled All India Radio, cinemas were like a window in our little lives to peep through now and then. But at the same time, as per the standards of those days, cinemas were also expensive. With an average price of 1.50 rupees for a chair ticket, it was equivalent to the price of a lunch in a casual restaurant or the price of an RTC bus ticket to travel to another town 40 km away or to reach a city that is 100 km away by train.
