L2: Empuraan: Mohanlal-Prithviraj film is more about style and less about story
Gun shots, whirring helicopters, grand sets, and actors flitting across the screen stylishly form the background of Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s big release L2: Empuraan. Announced as both sequel and prequel in parts to the 2019 Lucifer, the film’s setting is so expansive that it is hard to peel out the content from all the grandeur, the flickering borders of countries and the unquiet music marking every footstep of the invincible L. The single letter becomes a symbolic synonym for Mohanlal’s character owning many names: Stephen Nedumpally, Esthappan, Khureshi Ab'raam, and his favourite, Lucifer. If you want the short version, Empuraan has a lot of style and little content. Prithviraj, directing the second film in his dream trilogy, takes on a longer, more pronounced role than in the first. As Zayed Masood, he has a bloodied past in a communal violence that took place in 2002 -- presumably based on the real-life Gujarat riots. After capturing in its opening credits a train fire that triggered the riots, the film mirrors the horrific violence that had engulfed Gujarat at the time, with disturbing visuals including attacks against women. But when it comes to the politics of Kerala, the film turns scornful, making a mockery of its parties and leaders. The writer of the film series, actor and former journalist Murali Gopy, does not show up on the screen except by way of a short voice-over. But there is no shortage of actors, familiar faces joining the cast from across India and a few other countries. Like in Lucifer, stars tumble out at every juncture of the film, and with so many actors, there is very little each one of them could do, even as the movie stretches to three hours. Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Nyla Usha, Sai Kumar, and Baiju all reprise their roles, while a number of other known actors from India and abroad are introduced in Empuraan. Among them is Jerome Flynn, an English actor known for his role in Game of Thrones. Others making short, dramatic entries include French actor Eriq Ebouaney, British actor Andrea Tivadar, and Indian actors Suraj Venjaramood and Kishore Kumar. There is little by way of camouflaging real-life political parties and personalities in Murali's script. Part two perhaps accommodates more fiction, or so it seems, with Tovino’s character, the youngest male in the grand old family ruling the state, going rogue and setting the ball rolling. The film boils down to relatable questions: who will save the party, the country, and the wounded masses. Manju Warrier, playing the uninterested sister loyal to her father’s memory, gets a prominent role, but continues to give the impression of a wound-up doll. Not her fault — the whole show runs on buildup; Deepak Dev’s music and Sujith Vasudev’s cinematography setting the stage at every turn, akin to rolling down the red carpet. The characters only need to walk on it and be stagey to create effect. Interestingly that is one of the tips given by Baiju's character, playing a politician, on what a new leader should do to create an impact. Baiju’s is perhaps the most, and at times the only, natural performance among the plethora of actors. Even Mohanlal has little to say, which, in a way, seems like a good call. Long monologues might reverse the impact desired of his rationed scenes, every one of which is designed like his first. By way of costume, suited up abroad and folded-up mundu back home; a slow and measured stride; pointed glances; and silhouetted appearances, his persona is in every way built into an out-of-reach demigod, who insists he is the devil. The few dialogues he delivers are spoken in riddles and rhymes, removed from everyday language, as he calls himself the devil-incarnate. A lot of the script is clearly written for the fans, but it is anyone’s guess how much of it they will lap up. One can make out the ‘mass’ scenes that are likely to draw applause – the combo stunts of Mohanlal and Prithviraj, the shots where Lucifer’s ‘L’ takes shape out of falling structures, or the last-minute entry to save the damsel in distress. But if you are not for the ‘mass’ or the masala, Empuraan may not be for you.Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
GUN shots, whirring helicopters, grand sets, and actors flitting across the screen stylishly form the background of Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s big release L2: Empuraan.
Announced as both sequel and prequel in parts to the 2019 Lucifer, the film’s setting is so expansive that it is hard to peel out the content from all the grandeur, the flickering borders of countries and the unquiet music marking every footstep of the invincible L.
The single letter becomes a symbolic synonym for Mohanlal’s character owning many names: Stephen Nedumpally, Esthappan, Khureshi Ab'raam, and his favourite, Lucifer.
If you want the short version, Empuraan has a lot of style and little content.
Prithviraj, directing the second film in his dream trilogy, takes on a longer, more pronounced role than in the first. As Zayed Masood, he has a bloodied past in a communal violence that took place in 2002 -- presumably based on the real-life Gujarat riots.
After capturing in its opening credits a train fire that triggered the riots, the film mirrors the horrific violence that had engulfed Gujarat at the time, with disturbing visuals including attacks against women. But when it comes to the politics of Kerala, the film turns scornful, making a mockery of its parties and leaders.
The writer of the film series, actor and former journalist Murali Gopy, does not show up on the screen except by way of a short voice-over. But there is no shortage of actors, familiar faces joining the cast from across India and a few other countries.
Like in Lucifer, stars tumble out at every juncture of the film, and with so many actors, there is very little each one of them could do, even as the movie stretches to three hours.
Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Nyla Usha, Sai Kumar, and Baiju all reprise their roles, while a number of other known actors from India and abroad are introduced in Empuraan. Among them is Jerome Flynn, an English actor known for his role in Game of Thrones.
Others making short, dramatic entries include French actor Eriq Ebouaney, British actor Andrea Tivadar, and Indian actors Suraj Venjaramood and Kishore Kumar.
There is little by way of camouflaging real-life political parties and personalities in Murali's script. Part two perhaps accommodates more fiction, or so it seems, with Tovino’s character, the youngest male in the grand old family ruling the state, going rogue and setting the ball rolling. The film boils down to relatable questions: who will save the party, the country, and the wounded masses.
Manju Warrier, playing the uninterested sister loyal to her father’s memory, gets a prominent role, but continues to give the impression of a wound-up doll. Not her fault — the whole show runs on buildup; Deepak Dev’s music and Sujith Vasudev’s cinematography setting the stage at every turn, akin to rolling down the red carpet.
The characters only need to walk on it and be stagey to create effect. Interestingly that is one of the tips given by Baiju's character, playing a politician, on what a new leader should do to create an impact. Baiju’s is perhaps the most, and at times the only, natural performance among the plethora of actors.
Even Mohanlal has little to say, which, in a way, seems like a good call. Long monologues might reverse the impact desired of his rationed scenes, every one of which is designed like his first.
By way of costume, suited up abroad and folded-up mundu back home; a slow and measured stride; pointed glances; and silhouetted appearances, his persona is in every way built into an out-of-reach demigod, who insists he is the devil.
The few dialogues he delivers are spoken in riddles and rhymes, removed from everyday language, as he calls himself the devil-incarnate.
A lot of the script is clearly written for the fans, but it is anyone’s guess how much of it they will lap up. One can make out the ‘mass’ scenes that are likely to draw applause – the combo stunts of Mohanlal and Prithviraj, the shots where Lucifer’s ‘L’ takes shape out of falling structures, or the last-minute entry to save the damsel in distress. But if you are not for the ‘mass’ or the masala, Empuraan may not be for you.
Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
