Despite early delays and production disputes, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s directorial L2: Empuraan is on course to deliver the biggest-ever opening for a Malayalam film, with record-breaking advance bookings and global buzz.
March 24, 2025: L2: Empuraan Sets Malayalam Box Office Ablaze With Record-Breaking Presales, Eyes ₹40 Cr Day 1
Actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran’s much-awaited directorial, L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, is all set to become a landmark moment in Malayalam cinema. With advance bookings setting new records both in India and abroad, the film is already emerging as a box office juggernaut ahead of its release on March 27.
Within just 24 hours of ticket sales opening on BookMyShow, Empuraan sold over 6.45 lakh tickets, smashing the previous record held by Kalki 2898 AD. The presales have already grossed ₹8.42 crore for Day 1 across India, making it the highest ever for a Malayalam film.
From Delay Rumours to a Distribution Triumph
Interestingly, this overwhelming response comes despite recent turbulence around the film’s release. An internal dispute between co-producers Lyca Productions and Aashirvad Cinemas had sparked rumours of a delay, as updates and promotions briefly halted. However, with Sree Gokulam Movies stepping in as a new production partner, the tide turned in Empuraan’s favour.
Industry trackers believe the controversy, instead of harming the film, worked as free publicity, intensifying curiosity and discussions online. “The delay worked in their favour. The hype is now at another level,” says analyst Sreedhar Pillai.
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Box Office Predictions and Global Buzz
Empuraan is now poised to potentially deliver Malayalam cinema’s first-ever ₹40 crore opening worldwide. “If the first-day reactions are even 50% positive, the film will be unstoppable,” Pillai stated.
The film’s international advance bookings — particularly in the Gulf, Europe, and the US — have also been exceptional, says analyst Ramesh Bala. “The overseas market is moving ahead steadily, and Kerala remains the core stronghold,” he added.
Lyca Controversy and Financial Hurdles
The clash with Lyca Productions stemmed from financial stress faced by the studio. Having backed a series of underperforming films such as Chandramukhi 2, Lal Salaam, and Indian 2, Lyca reportedly struggled to fulfill pre-release financial obligations.
Bala revealed that Lyca had invested nearly ₹75 crore in Empuraan, hoping to recoup via OTT and satellite deals. However, with those yet to close, promotional funds were tight — triggering the slowdown.
Mohanlal’s Star Power and Market Targeting
Despite the challenges, Empuraan’s success rests on Mohanlal’s unmatched pull in Kerala and the diaspora markets. Analyst AB George noted, “Even before Kerala presales began, overseas bookings had almost matched the global opening record of Marakkar, which was ₹20.4 crore.”
He added that Empuraan, unlike many pan-India mass films, is content-driven, and its targeted marketing reflects that. “It doesn’t need to over-promote in markets where it won’t dominate. It’s reaching the Malayalee audience — its core strength,” he explained.
Conclusion: Controversy Turned Catalyst
The production hiccup, far from derailing the film, has added to the mystique and momentum. As Pillai put it, “The drama around Lyca, followed by a last-minute revival by Gokulam, gave Empuraan a mass-entry-like moment even before release.”
With advance sales already in record territory and buzz peaking globally, L2: Empuraan is poised to redefine the scale of success for Malayalam cinema. Whether it lives up to the anticipation will be known by the evening of March 27 — but if the signs are any indication, Malayalam cinema may be about to witness its biggest-ever blockbuster.
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