"Fell Short In Being Nuanced": L2: Empuraan Reviews Out

Theatres in Kerala is swarming with fans as the much awaited Mohanlal-Prithviraj combo L2: Empuraan hit theatres. The film appears to be a power-packed political feast and Mohanlal, the ever-charming superstar of Mollywood is finally back – as fans put it. Apart from Mohanlal, Prithviraj, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Indrajith Sukumaran, Jerome Flynn and the mysterious character, are in the front row in the film.

Times of India said Empuraan starts out as a brave, bold film. Not for its budget and ambition alone, but also for the subject, with the quite upfront political portrayals. The review said that the first half goes with the textbook ‘thrill every few minutes’ formula. It said while the first half is on fire, second half dips in pace, where the politics in Kerala could have really been engaging and fun. The outlet said while the film served to extent to the sky-high anticipation of the movie, it doesn’t manage to have the novelty, punch and star power that Lucifer gave us. The review also said that the film is a believable story, not just one that takes the hero on audacious missions that leave us shaking our heads and laughing. So, this could make for an entertaining, rousing viewing for audiences, with the promise of another installment.

Also Read: L2 Empuraan Review: Mohanlal – Prithviraj Political Thriller Packs Daring And Style

Indian Express said that the highly ambitious sequel L2: Empuraan, aren’t entirely in its favour. It said it may not be wrong to say that the very person the film positions as the sole savior for God’s Own Country has, to a great extent, saved the movie itself, overshadowing its shortcomings; which is Mohanlal as Khureshi Ab’raam alias Stephen Nedumpally. The review said that Empuraan is certainly not another run-of-the-mill pan-Indian movie that exists solely to scream “look what our star can do!” It indeed has a well-thought-out core, layered with subtext, comprising political undertones too. Although Prithviraj proves his skill as a master of spectacle, his storytelling (as a director) falls short as he struggles to compensate for the film’s lack of a strong narrative.

According to OTT Play, in Empuraan, the makers mount a Malayalam film on a scale not done before. The film have action sequences featuring military helicopters, iconic frames from locations in the US and even a CGI-driven opening credit sequence that would sear the intensity of what’s happening into people’s minds and hearts. It said while most of part of the film is “just like Lucifer”, it fell short in being nuanced. The review said the film is “more in your face. The L motifs were placed cleverly, but after a point it becomes redundant”. It said Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s ambitious follow-up to Lucifer dazzles in scale. The film manages to expand the universe and has enough to keep fans of both actors entertained. This, however, comes at the cost of finesse that Lucifer had.

Also Read: Revealed: The Mystery Character Of L2: Empuraan (Spoiler Alert)

According to Timeline, While L2: Empuraan stands as one of Malayalam’s grandest productions, it is not its finest film. The review said the writer Murali Gopi starts the film with a ‘controversial’ choice, unexpected from a Mohanlal-led mainstream film. He uses a 2002 riot to present the flashback of Zayed Masood, the mercenary played by Prithviraj. The introductory scenes don’t shy away from depicting the socio-political affiliations of the perpetrators of the Gujarat riots, making it clear who the real victims were. The review said in comparison to Lucifer, which was fresh and enterprising, Empuraan has its flaws. One major flaw is that the new characters remain unfinished in their arcs while old ones fail to find the rhythm. Except for Manju Warrier, all the female characters are limited to some small scenes and disappear quick.