“L2: Empuraan (stylized as E.M.P.U.R.A.A.N) or L2E, is an upcoming Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and written by Murali Gopy. Serving as the second installment in a planned trilogy, following the success of the 2019 film Lucifer, the movie is a joint production of Lyca Productions and Aashirvad Cinemas. Mohanlal reprises his role as Khureshi-Ab’raam / Stephen Nedumpally, alongside a star-studded ensemble cast including Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, and others.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Originally conceived as a trilogy, Lucifer’s first part set the foundation for the series’ continuation. Following the resounding success of Lucifer, plans for Empuraan were announced in June 2019. However, production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a revised schedule. Writer Murali Gopy took this time to expand the film’s narrative scale and depth. The screenplay was finalized in July 2022, with pre-production commencing shortly after. In a significant move, Lyca Productions made their Malayalam debut by joining Aashirvad Cinemas as producers in 2023.
Deepak Dev has been tapped to compose the film’s music. Principal photography began on October 5, 2023, starting in Faridabad, India, followed by various international locations such as the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Mexico, and Russia in sporadic schedules.”
Cast
Mohanlal as Khureshi-Ab’raam / Stephen Nedumpally
Prithviraj Sukumaran as Zayed Masood
Manju Warrier as Priyadarshini “Priya” Ramdas
Tovino Thomas as Jathin Ramdas
Supporting Cast:
Adarsh as Young Stephen
Karthikeya Dev as Young Zayed Masood
Angelina Abraham as Young Priyadarshini
Indrajith Sukumaran as Govardhan
Shakti Kapoor as Sanghani
Suraj Venjaramoodu
Manoj K. Jayan
Arjun Das
Bobby Simha
Sai Kumar as Mahesha Varma
Sachin Khedekar as P. K. Ramdas
Fazil as Father Nedumpally
Baiju Santhosh as Murugan
Nandu as P. S. Peethambran
Shivaji Guruvayoor as Medayil Rajan
Rahul Madhav
Giju John as Sanjeev Kumar
Shine Tom Chacko
Sharafudheen
Nyla Usha as Arundathi Sanjeev
Saniya Iyappan as Jhanvi
Aneesh G. Menon as Sumesh
Alexx O’Nell as Interpol Officer
Parvathy Menon Shijith as PKR’s Wife
Special Appearances:
Vivek Oberoi as Bimal Nair (Bobby)
Kalabhavan Shajohn as Aloshy Joseph
Production
The continuation of the Lucifer saga into a trilogy, known as L2: Empuraan, was confirmed by writer Murali Gopy shortly after the release of Lucifer in April 2019. He emphasized that the film was always conceptualized as part of a larger franchise due to its narrative structure and progression. The official announcement of Empuraan came during a press conference on June 18, 2019, where director Prithviraj Sukumaran explained that “Empuraan” signifies someone between a king and a god, essentially an overlord.
Contrary to a direct sequel, Empuraan explores events before and after those depicted in Lucifer, presenting a comprehensive narrative that builds on the franchise’s storyline. Originally envisioned as a trilogy, the concept initially aimed at being a three-season web series, with the first season adapted into the film Lucifer.
Production plans were initially set for the second half of 2020 but were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying pre-production activities until 2021. Despite setbacks, including Prithviraj’s directorial commitments to other projects like Bro Daddy in 2021, progress resumed as the team aimed for a mid-2022 filming start.
In 2022, Murali Gopy expanded Empuraan’s narrative scope, finalizing the screenplay by July. The production entered pre-production in August 2022, with Prithviraj describing the film as a commercial entertainer. In a significant development, Lyca Productions joined Aashirvad Cinemas as producers in September 2023, marking their Malayalam debut.
With its intricate storyline and ambitious production, L2: Empuraan continues to captivate audiences with its blend of action and intrigue, promising to delve deeper into the mythos established in Lucifer while charting new territory in the evolving saga.
Casting
Mohanlal returns to portray the iconic characters Khureshi-Ab’raam and Stephen Nedumpally in L2: Empuraan, reprising his roles from the first installment, Lucifer. The film’s announcement in 2019 hinted at Prithviraj Sukumaran’s character, Zayed Masood, taking on a more significant role in Empuraan, expanding upon his relationship with Stephen beyond what was explored in Lucifer.
Confirming his involvement in February 2020, Tovino Thomas added to the ensemble cast, while Baiju Santhosh announced his return as Murugan in February 2023. The sequel also sees the return of Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Sachin Khedekar, reprising their respective roles from Lucifer.
Further casting updates in May 2023 included pivotal roles for Suraj Venjaramoodu, Arjun Das, Sharafudheen, Shine Tom Chacko, and Rahul Madhav, enriching the narrative with diverse talents. Notably, Saniya Iyappan confirmed her return as Jhanvi, despite her prior announcement of a hiatus to pursue a bachelor’s degree in acting in the UK.
The addition of these accomplished actors underscores Empuraan’s commitment to delivering a richly layered narrative with a diverse and talented ensemble. With Mohanlal and Prithviraj leading the charge alongside a stellar cast, anticipation is high for the sequel to delve deeper into the intricate world established by Lucifer, promising fans an immersive cinematic experience filled with action, drama, and suspense.
Filming
Sujith Vaassudev retained his role as cinematographer for L2: Empuraan, ensuring continuity in visual style from its predecessor. After an extensive six-month location scouting process across India, which concluded in February 2023, the production team embarked on an international recce. Originally slated to begin principal photography on 15th August, filming faced delays when Prithviraj sustained an injury on the sets of Vilayath Buddha, prompting a postponement.
Production officially commenced with a muhurat shot on 5th October in Faridabad, near Delhi and Haryana, featuring foreign actors and extras. The shoot swiftly moved to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, after a brief stint in Faridabad, and subsequently proceeded to Leh, Ladakh, where the first schedule wrapped up on 28th October.
Nirmal Sahadev served as the creative director, while Suresh Balaje and George Pius of Wide Angle Creations assumed roles as line producers for the film. Stunt Silva, renowned for his expertise in action choreography, was enlisted to craft the film’s dynamic action sequences.
The crew continued their meticulous planning with location scouting in London in November, paving the way for the second schedule held across the United Kingdom in January 2024. During the third schedule, which commenced in the USA, actors Tovino Thomas and Indrajith Sukumaran joined the production. Locations such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, Louisiana, and New York provided the backdrop for crucial scenes, adding an international flair to the film’s narrative.
With a blend of local and global settings, coupled with a talented crew and diverse cast, L2: Empuraan promises to deliver an immersive cinematic experience that builds upon the intrigue and scale established in Lucifer. As the production continues to unfold across continents, anticipation grows for this ambitious sequel that aims to captivate audiences with its gripping storyline and spectacular visuals.
Also read about Double iSmart” is an eagerly anticipated Indian Telugu-language science fiction action film, penned and directed by the talented Puri Jagannadh.