Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran‘s L2: Empuraan has taken the box office by storm, setting a new record for the highest first-week collections in Malayalam cinema. The much-anticipated sequel of Lucifer has earned a staggering Rs 83.73 crore in its first seven days with one more day left for the week to go.
Breaking Down the Numbers
From its opening day, L2: Empuraan showcased its box office dominance:
- Day 1 (Thursday): Rs 21 Cr
- Day 2 (Friday): Rs 11.1 Cr
- Day 3 (Saturday): Rs 13.25 Cr
- Day 4 (Sunday): Rs 13.65 Cr
- Day 5 (Monday): Rs 11.15 Cr
- Day 6 (Tuesday): Rs 8.55 Cr
- Day 7 (Wednesday): Rs 5.03 Cr
Setting New Records
With its phenomenal Rs 83.73 crore first-week collection, L2: Empuraan has already become the highest-grossing Malayalam film in terms of opening week numbers. This surpasses previous benchmarks set by other Malayalam blockbusters like The Goat Life ( Rs 47 crore), Manjummel Boys ( Rs 26.35 crore ), 2018 ( Rs 24.85 crore) and Aavesham ( Rs 30.45 crore) .
Moreover, the film’s global appeal has been evident in its overseas earnings, where it has become the first Malayalam film to gross over $14 million in just four days. In the UAE, L2: Empuraan ranked among the top opening weekend performers, trailing only behind massive Bollywood and Hollywood blockbusters.
On Track to Overtake The Goat Life
Given its momentum, L2: Empuraan is all set to surpass The Goat Life’s lifetime earnings of Rs 85 crore before the end of the day With its strong hold at the box office, L2: Empuraan is well on its way to rewriting the history of Malayalam cinema.
Despite its success, the film faced controversy in India over allegations of promoting an ‘anti-Hindu agenda’ due to its depiction of the 2002 Gujarat riots, thereby leading to 24 cuts in the film. The new version will be screened from today mostly.
The backlash led to Mohanlal addressing the concerns on social media. In his statement, he expressed regret over any distress caused, saying, “I have come to know that certain political and social themes in Empuraan, the second installment in the Lucifer franchise, have caused considerable distress among many of my loved ones. As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films promote hatred towards any political movement, ideology, or religious group. Therefore, both I and the Empuraan team sincerely regret the distress caused. We take full responsibility and acknowledge that such issues should be addressed. For over four decades, it is you, the audience, who have been part of my cinematic journey. Your love and trust are my strength. I believe there is no Mohanlal beyond that.” Following this, actor-director Prithviraj also shared Mohanlal’s statement, further addressing the concerns.
