L2 Empuraan review: Mohanlal channels Rajinikanth, Prithviraj goes mass; Mollywood loses its identity in a garbled mess

L2: Empuraan

Cast: Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Abhimanyu Singh, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier

Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran

Rating: ★★.5

It had been 45 minutes by the watch since L2: Empuraan's opening scene (I know because I checked), and Mohanlal - the titular messiah - had not entered the storyline. I may be old-school but I like the heroes of my mass action movies to arrive a lot earlier than the interval. But then Empuraan isn't your run-of-the-mill mass masala film. It comes from God's own country - where cinema is still alive. The attempt here is to marry the finesse of Malayalam cinema with the big-ticket experience of mass cinema. These are the director's own words. Yet, what happens in the end is a film grappling with an identity crisis, an overlong runtime, and a confused mess of a script. The mass moments and action save the day, but barely. (Also read: L2 Empuraan Twitter reviews: Fans love Mohanlal's entry and fight scenes, criticise ‘poor writing’ of Prithviraj's film)

What is Empuraan about

A sequel to Prithviraj Sukumaran's Lucifer, L2: Empuraan sees a Kerala where the CM Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) is siding with communal forces led by Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh). His sister, Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) is unable to stop him, and must look to their half-brother, Stephen (Mohanlal), who had left Jathin in charge six years earlier. But Stephen is away and living as his alter ego - criminal mastermind Khureshi Ab'raam. Aided by his Man Friday Zayed (Prithviraj), he is settling some scores overseas before he turns his attention back home. And once he does, there is a lot of fights, bodies flying, and vengeance. All the ingredients of a good ol' mass entertainer.

What does and does not work

On paper, Empuraan has everything for a blockbuster - a star who is revered, a supporting cast that is competent and popular, exotic locales, slick action, and a large budget. What it lacks is a cohesive story, though. The first hour of Empuraan takes the viewer to half a dozen locations across two different timelines. As we traverse through this travelogue, there is no semblance of a plot that goes anywhere. As the politics in Kerala is meandering its way through another twist, Ab'raam is eliminating enemies half the globe away.

An all-powerful character's power comes into question when his near and dear ones are suffering, and yet, he is unable to intervene, let alone put an end to it somehow. But after the first hour, the film does pick up somewhat as we see a montage of Mohanlal's entry shots, all in slo-mo. It's stylish, slick, and great fan service, eliciting some whistles. But again, does little for the narrative.

It's only after the interval that the film becomes watchable, because Prithviraj chooses to let the mass hero finally indulge in some action. The jungle fight sequence right after the interval is easily the film's highlight. Mohanlal turns back the clock in the fight sequence, using his natural charm and aura to create the larger-than-life persona of Lucifer believable. The fanboy in the director is evident though, as he does get carried away a few times, almost Rajinifying Mohanlal in the process.

The performances are nothing to write home about, either. This is not the Mohanlal of Bharatham, nor does he pretend to be. It is a different genre, but the actor fits. He is effortless and charming and holds his own in the action scenes. Prithviraj Sukumaran seems like a younger version of the superstar - just fitter and younger. He emotes with his eyes in an equally restrained manner. Abhimanyu Singh steals the show, though. Anyone who has watched him in Gulaal and Raktha Charithra knows exactly the menace he is capable of, and he brings it here in abundance. To stand toe-to-toe with both Mohanlal and Prithviraj and almost come out on top requires both performance and screen presence. True to the genre, fine actors like Tovino Thomas and Manju Warrier are wasted by a complex script that offers them little to play with.

Is Empuraan even Malayalam?

Empuraan's essence is very Telugu and Tamil. It almost seems like an Atlee or Sukumar film, with a Prasanth Neel filter added. The crudeness is also very un-Malayalam. The films from Mollywood are known for their realism. And yes, at times, they can get uncomfortable when they touch sensitive issues. But the unpalatable violence of Empuraan is not sensitive. It is visceral and crude, dehumanising almost, and certainly titillating. That is the aspect that robs the film of its roots. It is a brave attempt at taking Malayalam films pan-India and global. But let's face it: in its treatment and execution, Empuraan is anything but Malayalam. It is closer to a Salaar than to an Aavesham.

Some could say Empuraan deserves marks for the attempt. But as my elementary school math teacher reminded me so often, it's the result that matters. And here, sadly, the film just about manages to pass, far from scoring well.