Six years ago, actor-turned-director Prithviraj Sukumaran made his directorial debut with the iconic blockbuster Lucifer, written by Murali Gopy. The film starred Mohanlal in the titular role and was supported by an ensemble cast that included Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Vivek Oberoi, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Saikumar. In the final moments of Lucifer, Mohanlal, who played the role of Stephen Nedumpally revealed that he had another name i.e. Khureshi Ab’ram. After the success of Lucifer, it was revealed that it was conceived as a trilogy, and the makers announced its second instalment. The makers united to bring the world of Khureshi Ab’ram and the present-day political issues faced in God’s Own Country to the audiences. The second instalment has been released after a series of underwhelming releases for the Mollywood Superstar. However, the teaser and trailer have garnered praise across the nation and overseas markets which has increased the hype for the second instalment. To what extent does this second instalment live up to its hype?
Theatrical release poster
The film shows us how present-day Chief Minister, Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) steps down from IUF to join hands with Baba Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh) which is opposed by his sister, Priyadarshini Ramdas (Manju Warrier). How Stephen Nedumpally a.k.a Khureshi Abr’am (Mohanlal) attempts to resolve the chaos while simultaneously tackling the Kabuga cartel and the Shen Triad forms the crux of the plot.
The makers have mounted the film on a scale unfamiliar to the Malayalam film industry with sequences featuring military choppers, stunning visuals and large parts of the film being shot in foreign locations with actors from around the globe being given roles.
Story & Screenplay:
The story begins with a shootout at Qaraqosh, Iraq and then shifts back to 2002 giving us an insight into Zayed Masood’s (Prithviraj Sukumaran) backstory. The screenplay takes a slow pace to introduce the characters and bring us into another world of the Khureshi Ab’ram nexus, Kabuga cartel, Shen Triad and MI6. While Murali Gopy follows a similar template which he did with Lucifer, this is where the movie falters as there is a plethora of characters and leads to Baba Bajrangi and Karthik’s characters being underwritten and feel an absence of a strong villain.
Direction:
Prithviraj Sukumaran has done a commendable job in helming this project which was mounted on a big scale making it Malayalam cinema’s biggest production. The filmmaker has taken the punt of portraying Mohanlal for less than a third of the runtime as he did in Lucifer, which has worked hugely in the film’s favour. Mohanlal’s introduction scene, the forest action sequence and the climax are a treat to watch. Additionally, Prithviraj mentioned that he was insistent on shooting in real locations and his persistence is very well-deserving of praise as it unfolds on screen well.
Technical Aspects:
The scale at which this film has been mounted reflects on the screen with stunning visuals and top-notch cinematography by Sujith Vaassudev. The visuals, VFX and breath-taking shots are what elevate this film. The slo-mo shots, which were seen in Lucifer are extensively used here as well. While I feel it has been done well, it can feel a bit excessive and repetitive.
Performances:
Mohanlal commands the screen with his aura and his presence is felt throughout the film. He effortlessly steals the show in the little time that he is shown in the film. Manju Warrier has been given a very strong role in this edition of the franchise and she does justice to it. Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Abhimanyu Singh, Saikumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu Jerome Flynn, Eric Ebouaney and the rest of the cast have essayed their roles well.
Music & Background Score:
Deepak Dev has carried on from where he left off in Lucifer and has done a notable job in composing the music for this film. While he has recycled some of the songs and background scores from Lucifer, it has been able to elevate the scenes and provide a good throwback value. However, the rest of the songs and background scores are nothing exceptional but not the worst job that has been done. Phir Zinda was a very good fit in the movie.
Final Verdict:
L2: Empuraan is a bold attempt by the makers to create a large-scale action drama as done before by other South Indian industries. Despite the lack of a strong villain and the flashback portions being underwritten, this film is well-made and a great watch in theatres which leaves us thinking as to what the third and final instalment in the world of Lucifer is going to be like. This is a movie Mohanlal fans would enjoy on the big screens purely due to the Mohanlal mass moments.
Rating: 3.5/5