Empuraan is a highly anticipated Malayalam action thriller that continues the story from the 2019 hit Lucifer. The film, which has been directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, deals with complex political power plays. Empuraan has raised controversy for its right-wing political criticism and references to the Gujarat riots. The film is running in theaters, and it has registered huge box office figures.
About the Film
Empuraan documents the turbulent existence of a man who is caught in the midst of the political tempest and inner conflict. The film broaches ambition, corruption, and redemption within a charged political climate. With a backdrop that spans both local and international territory, the story is as much a struggle for power as it is a quest for identity. Its narrative is based on Lucifer's history but introduces new tensions and dramatic twists. The screenplay mixes action, drama, and political satire in a forceful and gripping style.
The film boasts an ensemble cast that enhances its gripping storyline. Mohanlal plays the character of Khureshi Ab'raam again with an intensity-filled performance filled with gravitas. Prithviraj Sukumaran features as Zayed Masood, and Tovino Thomas features as Jathin Ramdas in a subtle way. The cast also includes Abhimanyu Singh, Manju Warrier, Andrea Tivadar, Jerome Flynn, Indrajith Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kishore, Nyla Usha, and Eriq Ebouaney. With Rick Yune and Pranav Mohanlal featuring in the film with a cameo appearance, the film shows a strong pairing of veteran artists and newcomers. Technical details too have been attention-grabbing, with Empuraan turning out to be the first Malayalam film release in IMAX and EPIQ formats.
Review (Initial)
Pre-release reviews of Empuraan are encouraging. Critics call it a big cinematic spectacle with intense action scenes and gripping political drama. Several rate Mohanlal's performance as well as that of director Prithviraj Sukumaran for achieving both scale and detailing. However, a couple of critics say that the crowded plot and scandals in the film might not resonate with everybody. Generally, early reviews show that Empuraan is a daring jump forward in Malayalam cinema, merging raw action and sensitive storytelling.
OTT Release
Empuraan is doing great in theaters currently. There are indications that it will have an OTT release on platforms like JioHotstar following a run in theaters of approximately 45-60 days. Lucifer is available in Amazon Prime. Watch this space for confirmed OTT release announcements as new updates arrive.
Update: April 17, 2025: Empuraan will be released on JioHotstar on April 24th onwards. The movie will be available in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
For further analysis and news regarding OTT releases, check out our Watching Guide. Stream on!
