Despite ₹104.78 Cr net and historic run, high budget prevents Mohanlal-Prithviraj’s political thriller from achieving ‘success’ status
Kochi, April 16, 2025 – L2: Empuraan, the much-anticipated sequel to Lucifer and Mollywood’s most expensive film to date, continues its run at the box office, albeit at a slower pace. On Day 19, the film earned ₹0.62 crore, showing a 59% jump from Sunday’s ₹0.39 crore due to the Ambedkar Jayanti holiday.
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This brings the film’s India net total to ₹104.78 crore and gross earnings to ₹123.64 crore. Despite strong numbers, the film falls short of being declared a success due to its ₹180 crore budget.
💥 L2 vs Mohanlal’s Last Hit: A 282% Surge
Mohanlal’s last hit, the 2023 courtroom drama Neru, earned ₹32.35 crore in its lifetime. In contrast, L2: Empuraan has raked in nearly 282% more in just 19 days — a testament to the sequel’s initial pull and massive scale.
However, the film has only recovered around 68% of its budget so far. As collections dip below ₹1 crore daily, full recovery looks unlikely.
🥈 Second-Highest Malayalam Grosser of 2025
Despite falling short of the all-time #1 spot held by Manjummel Boys (₹142 crore), L2 has emerged as Mollywood’s second-biggest grosser of the year, setting a new benchmark for sequels and political thrillers in the industry.
🎬 Challenges Ahead: New Releases Dent Collections
Fresh Malayalam releases like Bazooka, Alappuzha Gymkhana, and Maranamass have reduced L2’s screen count, diverting footfalls and momentum away from the Mohanlal-led film.
🎞️ Quick Summary
- Day 19 Collection: ₹0.62 Cr
- 19-Day India Net: ₹104.78 Cr
- Gross Collection (India): ₹123.64 Cr
- Budget: ₹180 Cr
- Recovery So Far: ~68%
- Verdict: Commercially underwhelming despite big numbers
Tags: L2 Empuraan box office, Mohanlal movies, Prithviraj Sukumaran, L2 vs Neru, Malayalam cinema 2025, L2 Empuraan day 19, Mollywood box office, Trisha Krishnan, Manjummel Boys, Malayalam blockbuster