L2 Empuraan takes the story of Lucifer forward. But at the same time, there’s also a shift in the tonality. The first part was more of a political thriller, majorly set in Kerala. The sequel turns into something else – it is a spy entertainer while also focusing on state politics. There’s also a back-and-forth narrative. Despite these challenges, director Prithviraj Sukumaran ensures that the film is easy to comprehend. He also gives the film a rich look and its scale is skyhigh. What’s most praiseworthy is his comments on communal politics. This makes L2 Empuraan a brave effort. On the flipside, the film is too long (179 minutes). The hero enters the narrative very late, at the 61st minute, which is unheard of. A few aspects are not properly explained. Yet again, things happen conveniently for the narrative; this issue was also present in Lucifer. Mohanlal makes up for his late entry with his powerful performance. The way his eyes do the talking is seen to be believed. Prithviraj Sukumaran rocks the show yet again, albeit in a supporting role. Tovino Thomas and Manju Warrier lend able support. Abhimanyu Singh and Sukant Goel are excellent as the villains. Others also do well. All in all, L2 Empuraan is worth watching for its subject, performance and mass moments (P.S.: DON’T miss the beginning and try catching the first part before watching the sequel).
My rating – *** ½ out of 5!