Mohanlal’s much-anticipated film 'L2: Empuraan', directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, premiered in theaters on March 27, 2025, and has made a significant impact at the box office, shattering previous records for Malayalam cinema. On its opening day, the film earned a staggering ₹22 crore in India, more than doubling the previous record held by Mohanlal’s own 'Marakkar', which opened with ₹20 crore.
However, the excitement was tempered as the film's earnings dipped on its second day. According to industry tracker Sacnilk.com, 'L2: Empuraan' garnered an estimated ₹4.89 crore across all languages on March 28, 2025, bringing its two-day total to approximately ₹26.89 crore. Despite this decline, the film's overall occupancy remained strong, with the Malayalam version achieving a 42.13 percent occupancy rate on its second day.
The film's performance has been particularly robust in Kerala's major cities. Kochi led the occupancy charts with an impressive 77 percent, followed by Thrissur at 70 percent, Kollam at 67 percent, Kottayam at 61 percent, and Kozhikode at 62 percent. In contrast, the Hindi version struggled, recording only 4.69 percent occupancy.
'L2: Empuraan', which is the second installment of an ambitious trilogy following the blockbuster 'Lucifer' (2019), features a star-studded cast that includes Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier. The film continues the story of the notorious character Khureshi Ab’raam, expanding the narrative universe and introducing new characters, including a formidable antagonist.
Reviews of the film have been mixed. ETimes rated 'L2: Empuraan' 3.5 out of 5, noting that while it delivers high expectations, it falls short in capturing the novelty and punch that characterized its predecessor. The review remarked, “Unfortunately, the pace dips in the second half, where the politics in Kerala could have been truly engaging and fun.” The film's length, at 180 minutes, was also criticized for dragging, with the review suggesting it needed to be trimmed to maintain the audience’s engagement.
Despite the mixed reviews, the film's advance bookings have broken records for Malayalam films, with pre-sales reportedly surpassing ₹35 crore. It is estimated that 'L2: Empuraan' could gross up to ₹50 crore globally over its opening weekend, a remarkable feat for a Malayalam film.
As the weekend approaches, all eyes are on the film's ability to regain momentum, especially with the release of Salman Khan’s highly anticipated film 'Sikandar' set for March 30, 2025. This competition could pose a significant challenge to 'L2: Empuraan', which has already set a high bar for box office performance.
The film's strategic release in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, has broadened its audience reach. The Malayalam version alone earned ₹19.45 crore on its first day, while the Telugu version brought in ₹1.2 crore, the Tamil version nearly ₹80 lakh, and the Hindi and Kannada versions earned ₹50 lakh and ₹5 lakh, respectively.
As fans and critics alike continue to discuss the film, 'L2: Empuraan' has undoubtedly made its mark in the cinematic landscape, and its legacy will unfold as the trilogy progresses. The next installment, titled 'L3: The Beginning', has already been confirmed, promising to keep audiences engaged with the evolving story of Khureshi Ab’raam.
In summary, 'L2: Empuraan' has made a strong debut, capturing the attention of audiences and setting new benchmarks for box office earnings in the Malayalam film industry. While it faces stiff competition in the coming days, its initial success reflects the star power of Mohanlal and the appeal of its action-packed narrative.
