‘L2: Empuraan’ (2025) Movie Review - A Contender for the Worst Film of the Year

After a showy one-take tracking shot that ends with a bomb blast, L2: Empuraan throws us into the chaos of the 2002 Gujarat riots, and the atmosphere of hate, pain, and violence that it generates has to be the high point of this action thriller. Prithviraj Sukumaran fills us with rage and disgust - he ensures we feel as uncomfortable as possible. This is why, with unblinking eyes, he shows us the rape of a pregnant woman. Sukumaran wants you to see how ugly, how atrocious, how obscene mob violence can be, and how pathetic and appalling people can become when they start exuding nothing but pure hatred toward others. The fact that one of the main perpetrators, Baba Bajrangi or Balraj (Abhimanyu Singh), ends up as a high-level politician and threatens to secure a seat in Kerala becomes the central issue in Empuraan. Sukumaran is saying that people like Balraj shouldn't be our politicians. He is sending a warning, a message to the real world. His indications are indirect and subtle. But like Lucifer, this sequel goes nowhere interesting with its political allusions. Sukumaran and writer Murali Gopy have smart ideas, but they channel them through a lame story that's too desperate to reach a wider audience. By chasing the mass audience, the filmmakers sacrifice nuance, wit, and intelligence. After the Gujarat riots sequence, Empuraan becomes a "worst film of the year" contender.

The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist. This Devil in Empuraan is Stephen Nedumpally / Khureshi Ab'raam (Mohanlal). Just before the interval, Stephen pulls a trick to convince everyone that he is dead. That quote and a million entry shots make sure that we never feel perturbed. Every time Mohanlal appears on the screen, we see him walking in slow motion. Every appearance is treated as an introduction. The movie has ended, but I think Mohanlal is still walking in slow motion. The first time Stephen is introduced to us, three choppers pop up in the frame before his arrival. The camera spends so much time admiring these flying vehicles that we begin to feel exhausted. By the time the choppers start firing bullets, all the energy gets drained from the screen, and we, too, grow enervated. So when Stephen emerges in slow motion, we ask ourselves if we should close our eyes and take a nap. Since Stephen is Lucifer, the movie contains dilapidated churches and "L images" (L for Lucifer) created from a burning tree or a fallen cross.  Well, the only L-word I could think of while watching Empuraan was "Lethargic." Blame Sukumaran, the director. His images are terribly literal-minded. Gopy contributes bum dialogues, and Sukumaran dulls them further by dispensing them as flat expositions. Jhanvi (Saniya Iyappan) tells her mother, Priya (Manju Warrier) that her voice shouldn't be monotonous while giving speeches. Sukumaran should have followed this advice - there is a lack of inflection in the voice of all the actors.

Who, apart from Mohanlal fans, will enjoy Empuraan? A Muslim character says that he is an Indian before killing the main villain. A certain section of the audience will probably hail the film as "a brave attempt" on social media. I wish Sukumaran had made an engaging film with engaging characters. Why does Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) become corrupt? The concept sounds fascinating on paper (a kind, progressive politician gets drenched in the political rot), but a good film offers sound explanations. Jathin is a concept, not a character. Sukumaran's Zayed Masood is also unidimensional. Yet, he worked as long as he was a mere "problem solver." Empuraan, though, burdens him with heavy emotional baggage, which neither the actor nor his character is able to carry on their shoulders. What Empuraan sorely lacks is conviction. It's merely a three-hour-long reel fawning over Mohanlal. Yes, the reel runs in slow motion.

Final Score- [2.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times