Marketed as a mass action film, L2: Empuraan carries strong political themes. Mohanlal plays the lead, while Prithviraj Sukumaran directs. The movie opens with a sequence on the 2002 Gujarat riots. It presents one of the perpetrators as the main antagonist. This depiction has triggered a political storm in Kerala. Right-wing groups criticized the film, while Congress and Left leaders supported it.
The film is the second part of the Lucifer trilogy. Its critique of right-wing politics has sparked heated discussions. On release day, Sangh Parivar activists slammed the film on social media. Meanwhile, Congress and the Left celebrated its portrayal of right-wing ideologies.
Scriptwriter Murali Gopy dismissed the controversy. He said people can interpret the film however they want. “I will keep total silence on the controversy. Let them fight it out. Everyone has the right to interpret the film in their way,” he told PTI.
Right-Wing Backlash and BJP’s Stance
Several right-wing social media pages, including Sanatana Dharma, called the film “anti-Hindu.” They accused Prithviraj of misleading Mohanlal’s fans. However, the BJP’s Kerala unit distanced itself from the debate. BJP state general secretary P Sudheer clarified the party’s position. “The film will go its way, and the party will do its work. The party will not be affected by any film. The Sangh Parivar activists have the right to express their views and let the audience decide whether it is good or bad,” he said.
Congress Defends L2: Empuraan
Kerala Youth Congress president and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil praised the film. He called it a “pan-Indian film that speaks Malayalam.” He condemned the hate campaign against Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Murali Gopy. “The same people who advocated freedom of expression for films based on unfounded lies and religious hatred like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story have now come out against Empuraan,” he wrote on Facebook.
Congress’ Kerala unit mocked the critics on X (formerly Twitter). They wrote, “People who never stepped foot in Kerala claimed their tax-free C-grade propaganda film was ‘the real Kerala story’… now a world-class Malayalam film exposes their true agenda, and they can’t handle it.”
Box Office Success
Despite the controversy, L2: Empuraan shattered records. It earned ₹24.50 crore in India and ₹67 crore worldwide on opening day. Aashirvaad Cinemas confirmed that the film crossed ₹100 crore globally in just two days. It became the fastest Malayalam movie to reach this milestone.
