Few Malayalam promos have been as anticipated as the L2 Empuraan trailer. Released on 20 March 2025, just a week before the film hit theatres, it showed audiences how far Prithviraj Sukumaran had pushed the scale of the Lucifer universe — and it helped trigger some of the biggest advance bookings in Indian cinema that year. In this breakdown, we look at what the trailer revealed, the characters it introduced, the clues fans spotted and how it shaped the film’s record-breaking opening.
This article avoids major plot spoilers for L2: Empuraan.
Key Takeaways
- The trailer released on 20 March 2025, a week before the film’s 27 March release.
- It positioned Mohanlal’s Stephen Nedumpally in his global identity as Khureshi Ab’raam.
- Pre-release bookings reportedly broke records, with over a million tickets sold before release.
- The film went on to become the first Malayalam film to gross more than ₹250 crore.
Table of Contents
Background: From Lucifer to Empuraan
In Lucifer (2019), Mohanlal played Stephen Nedumpally, a mysterious political kingmaker in Kerala. The film’s final moments revealed that Stephen had another identity — Khureshi Ab’raam, a powerful figure operating on the international stage. Written by Murali Gopy and directed by Prithviraj, Lucifer became a huge hit and left fans eager for the sequel.
L2: Empuraan was announced as the second part of a planned trilogy. Through 2024 and early 2025, the makers released character posters for dozens of characters, building curiosity before the trailer finally arrived.
What the L2 Empuraan Trailer Revealed
- Global scale: the trailer moved far beyond Kerala, hinting at international locations and a conflict involving powerful global networks.
- Kerala politics in turmoil: it suggested that the political order Stephen left behind was under threat, setting up his return.
- Khureshi Ab’raam’s world: Mohanlal was presented as a commanding, almost mythic figure, with Prithviraj’s Zayed Masood at his side.
- Bigger action: the promo featured larger action set pieces than Lucifer, with a slick, international visual style.
- Deepak Dev’s score: the music built on the iconic themes of the first film.
Characters in Focus
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Mohanlal | Khureshi Ab’raam / Stephen Nedumpally |
| Prithviraj Sukumaran | Zayed Masood |
| Tovino Thomas | Jathin Ramdas |
| Manju Warrier | Priyadarshini Ramdas |
| Indrajith Sukumaran | Govardhan |
| Abhimanyu Singh | Antagonist |
The film also featured international actors including Jerome Flynn, Andrea Tivadar and Eriq Ebouaney, and a cameo by Rick Yune that sets up the next chapter. Read our guides to Mohanlal, Prithviraj, Tovino Thomas and Manju Warrier.
How the Trailer Fuelled Record Bookings
The L2 Empuraan trailer arrived when hype was already at its peak, and it pushed bookings into overdrive. Reports said ticket sales on BookMyShow crossed 96,000 tickets in a single hour at their peak, and over a million tickets were sold before release in India — numbers that compared favourably with some of the biggest pan-Indian films. The film opened with special early-morning shows across Kerala and simultaneous releases in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
It went on to gross around ₹265 crore worldwide, with a significant share coming from overseas markets, becoming the first Malayalam film past ₹250 crore. See where it ranks in our list of the highest grossing Malayalam movies.
After Release: Controversy and Re-Edit
After release, the film drew criticism from some groups over its political references. The makers made voluntary edits, and a re-censored version with cuts of about two minutes was released in theatres. Despite the controversy, the film continued its strong run. It began streaming on JioHotstar in April 2025 — see our JioHotstar guide.
Fan Theories the Trailer Sparked
Within hours of release, fans began dissecting every frame. Discussions focused on the dragon symbolism carried over from Lucifer, the identity of the main antagonist, how Zayed Masood’s backstory would connect to Khureshi Ab’raam, and which characters from the first film would return. Long breakdown videos racked up views on YouTube, and the trailer’s music was used in thousands of fan edits on Instagram. This level of engagement is rare for a Malayalam film and shows how the franchise had grown into a pan-Indian event.
Prithviraj also used the trailer launch to underline the film’s scale, with simultaneous language versions and coordinated events. The strategy turned a single promo into a week-long celebration that kept the Empuraan trailer trending until release day.
What the Trailer Tells Us About L3
The Lucifer franchise is planned as a trilogy, and the third film has been announced as L3: Azrael. Fans revisiting the L2 Empuraan trailer now notice how carefully it laid groundwork for a larger conflict. Follow updates in our upcoming Malayalam movies list.
Our Take on the Trailer
As a piece of marketing, the trailer did exactly what it needed to: it promised scale, star power and continuity with a beloved first film, without revealing the central plot. If it had a weakness, it was that it leaned so heavily on spectacle that it gave little sense of the film’s emotional core — something some critics also noted about the film itself. Still, as an event trailer, it is among the most effective in Malayalam history. See our list of the best Malayalam movie trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the L2 Empuraan trailer released?
The trailer was released on 20 March 2025.
When did L2: Empuraan release in theatres?
It released on 27 March 2025 in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
Who plays Khureshi Ab’raam?
Mohanlal plays Khureshi Ab’raam, the global identity of Stephen Nedumpally.
Where can I watch L2: Empuraan online?
It streams on JioHotstar.
Who composed the music for the Empuraan trailer?
Deepak Dev, who also scored Lucifer, composed the music for L2: Empuraan and its trailer.
Is there a third Lucifer film?
Yes. The third film has been announced as L3: Azrael, though no release date has been confirmed.
Conclusion
The L2 Empuraan trailer turned an anticipated sequel into a cultural event and set the stage for a record-breaking release. For full production details, visit Wikipedia.
