Chennai – With the release of the pan-Indian film Empuraan scheduled for March 27, the cast and crew gathered in Chennai for a pre-release event, shedding light on the ambitious project positioned as a significant venture for Malayalam cinema. The film serves as the second installment in a planned trilogy, following the 2019 release Lucifer.
Mohanlal, who reprises his role as Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi-Ab’raam, emphasized the project’s scale and potential impact. “This is a trilogy,” he stated at the event. “There’s ‘Lucifer,’ now ‘Empuraan,’ and another film will come after this. This is very important for Malayalam cinema.” He elaborated on the collaborative effort involved, saying, “We have tried several things a bit differently. Technical artists, actors – everyone has worked hard for that. If films like this run successfully, then many more big films will come. For that reason too, this film needs to succeed. Like you, I am also waiting for the March 27th release.”
Prithviraj Sukumaran, who’s both in and directing the film, commented on how Indian cinema’s changed since the original. “For me, this is a very important event,” Prithviraj remarked. “When the first part came out, the infrastructure to release it widely across India, to create buzz about the film, wasn’t readily available. Many things have changed in these six years.” He stressed the team’s dedication to ensuring the film resonates across different linguistic audiences, stating, “We have worked extremely hard to ensure audiences in every language can enjoy it in their own language.” He added, “This film is Malayalam cinema’s pride,” expressing gratitude to Mohanlal and producer Antony Perumbavoor for making the project possible.
The film, a joint production by Lyca Productions, Aashirvad Cinemas, and Sree Gokulam Movies, boasts a large ensemble cast featuring prominent names from Malayalam cinema alongside actors from other industries and international talent. Manju Warrier, returning as Priyadarshini Ramdas, described her role in the predecessor, “Lucifer,” as “a very important turning point” in her career. “I can’t thank Prithviraj enough for giving me this opportunity,” she said, adding, “Getting the chance to act alongside Lal sir [Mohanlal] again in this film is an honor; it’s all been an unforgettable experience. This film will definitely satisfy you.”
Tovino Thomas, also part of the cast, shared his enthusiasm: “Being a part of this film is a matter of pride for me. The impact ‘Lucifer’ had on my life, despite my small role, was immense. This film will be even grander.”
The production spanned numerous locations globally, including Shimla, Leh, the United Kingdom, the United States, Chennai, Gujarat, the United Arab Emirates, Mumbai, and Kerala, aiming for a visually expansive experience presented in an anamorphic format. Stunt director Stunt Silva noted the increased pressure compared to the first film. “The first part, we did it quite easily. There wasn’t as much tension then, but for the second part, there are huge expectations, a lot of tension,” he observed. He also praised the director’s commitment: “I became a fan of Prithviraj as a director… He was thinking about the film with so much dedication.”
Music director Deepak Dev, returning from “Lucifer,” called the project “a huge inspiration” and “a great blessing.” The technical team also includes cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev and editor Akhilesh Mohan.
RP Bala, who handled the Tamil dubbing direction, spoke about his association with Mohanlal, which began with “Pulimurugan” and continued with “Lucifer.” He recounted Mohanlal’s initial reluctance but eventual praise for the Tamil dub of “Lucifer,” which led to his involvement in “Empuraan.” “My life can be divided into before ‘Pulimurugan’ and after ‘Pulimurugan’. He is the reason I am doing well today,” Bala stated.
Empuraan is set for a multi-language release across India in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada on March 27, 2025, positioned as a major cinematic event emerging from the Malayalam film industry.