The highly anticipated Malayalam action-thriller L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, hit theatres on Thursday (March 27), serving as a sequel to the 2019 hit Lucifer. The film had a phenomenal opening, raking in ₹22 crore at the box office on its first day, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.
Strong Occupancy Across Shows
The film witnessed an impressive overall occupancy rate of 61.02% in the Malayalam market on its release day. Show-wise occupancy figures stood as follows:
- Morning shows: 63.32%
- Afternoon shows: 54.32%
- Evening shows: 60.43%
- Night shows: 66.00% (highest turnout)
Critical Acclaim and Industry Reactions
Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise L2: Empuraan, calling its debut a “historic start across Kerala.” He noted that theatres in major cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Thrissur, and Palakkad, were experiencing packed shows, signaling an “earth-shattering opening.”
He further stated, “Empuraan is on track to rewrite opening-day records. If this momentum continues, it could very well be a game-changer for the Malayalam film industry!”
Star-Studded Cast and Production
Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, L2: Empuraan is backed by Aashirvad Cinemas, Sree Gokulam Movies, and Lyca Productions and produced by Antony Perumbavoor, Gokulam Gopalan, and Subaskaran.
Apart from Mohanlal in the lead, the film boasts a star-studded cast, including Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Sachin Khedekar, Abhimanyu Singh, Jerome Flynn, Eriq Ebouaney, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Indrajith Sukumaran in pivotal roles.
Director’s Vision
Speaking about the film’s narrative, Prithviraj Sukumaran emphasized the importance of maintaining a coherent visual communication. He stated, “With so many events unfolding back to back, it’s easy for the audience to lose focus. L2: Empuraan is a fast-paced film that shifts rapidly between timelines, locations, and different parts of the world, often depicting simultaneous events across multiple timelines. Because of this, I had to be constantly aware of where the narrative was headed and ensure that the pacing remained consistent throughout.”
With a powerful opening and strong word-of-mouth, L2: Empuraan is poised for a record-breaking run at the box office.