L2: Empuraan Breaks Records—Now the Highest-Grossing Malayalam Film Ever!
Malayalam cinema is having a major moment, and it’s all thanks to L2: Empuraan—the Prithviraj-Mohanlal powerhouse that's absolutely crushing it at the box office. Despite facing its fair share of controversies, the film has not only weathered the storm but come out stronger, rewriting history as the highest-grossing Malayalam movie of all time.
Rs 250 Crore and Counting!
Yep, you read that right. In just 11 days, Empuraan has raked in over Rs 250 crore worldwide. That makes it the first Malayalam film ever to cross this milestone. The previous record-holder? Manjummel Boys, which stood tall at Rs 240+ crore—until now.
On day 11 alone, Empuraan collected Rs 3.97 crore, making it the film’s best haul during its second weekend. As of now, the domestic box office has hit Rs 98.35 crore, and it's on track to enter the Rs 100 crore club in India by day 12.
While the film’s international success has been a major boost, it might be a challenge for Empuraan to surpass Manjummel Boys’ domestic total of Rs 141.61 crore. And with a bunch of new releases hitting theatres on April 10—including Malayalam titles like Bazooka, Alappuzha Gymkhana, and Maranamass—screen space is about to get tight.
Not All Smooth Sailing
Despite its success, Empuraan has had a rocky ride. The film drew criticism from right-wing groups over scenes referencing the 2002 Gujarat riots and its portrayal of a political party, which led to a round of re-edits. The team ended up making 24 cuts before re-releasing the film on April 2.
There’s also been some off-screen drama. The Enforcement Directorate recently carried out raids at the offices of producer Gokulam Gopalan, and actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran received a notice from the Income Tax department requesting financial details from his recent films. Producer Antony Perumbavoor was also asked to clarify transactions from earlier projects like Lucifer and Marakkar.
Still, none of this has managed to dim Empuraan’s shine at the box office.
What’s the Film About?
In case you missed it, L2: Empuraan picks up with Stephen Nedumpally, aka Khureshi Ab’raam, as he makes a dramatic return to India. Teaming up with Zayed (played by Prithviraj himself), he steps into a political battlefield where he must take on the state's Chief Minister Jathin Ramdas (played by Tovino Thomas).
