Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran‘s latest venture, L2E: Empuraan, has taken the Malayalam film industry by storm, setting unprecedented box office records within hours of its release. Debuting on March 27, 2025, the film amassed over Rs 9.19 crore by 2 PM, surpassing the previous opening day record held by The Goat Life with a day 1 collection of Rs 8.95 crore.The film has sold tickets with almost Rs 20 crore in advance booking and given the strong response the film has been getting it seems the film will be able to touch at least Rs 30 crore by the end of the day.
Empuraan serves as the second installment in the planned trilogy following the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and featuring Mohanlal reprising his role as Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, the film has captivated audiences with its gripping narrative and stellar performances. The ensemble cast includes Prithviraj himself, alongside Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, and international actors such as Rick Yune and Jerome Flynn, adding a global appeal to the production.
The production journey of Empuraan was extensive, spanning 14 months from October 2023 to December 2024. Filming locations were diverse, covering various parts of India, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Ladakh, as well as international locales in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.
A significant highlight of Empuraan is its pioneering use of technology in Malayalam cinema. It is the first film in the industry to be released in IMAX and EPIQ formats.
Even in international markets the film has been generating a lot of buzz, before the screening began on 27th March- the film had sold tickets worth US $ 4 million in overseas markets. IN North America the film’s premiere shows contributed about US $ 575,000 and in UAE it’s premiere plus day 1 advance ticket sales stood at US $ 1.32 million.
