Much like the first part, director and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran creates an intricate world gradually revealing the various layers. The movie beats are familiar to part 1: at the same time he is successful in building fresh socio-political scenarios particularly the angle of religious propaganda
- Starcast: Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Prithviraj Sukumaran and others
- Genre: Action thriller
- Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran
- Writer: Murali Gopy
- Producers: Antony Perumbavoor and Gokulam Gopalan
- Cinematography: Sujith Vasudev
- Music: Deepak Dev
- Production Companies: Lyca Productions, Aashirvad Cinemas etc.
- Running time: 2 hours and 59 minutes
Lucifer 1 directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and featuring the legendary Mohanlal was a good mixture of fan service and a turbulent political landscape. The movie focused on the huge vacuum left by the death of Sachin Khedekar’s PK Ramdas. The power dynamics, particularly who would become the next leader formed the central plot of the movie. Mohanlal’s Stephen Nedumpally is a powerful and mysterious man changing the course of the story. Initially not much is known about him but slowly viewers come to know about the influence he yields. He plays a significant role in the ensuing political drama.
A major strength of Lucifer 1 was the grey shades of not just Mohanlal but also the other important players, specifically Vivek Oberoi who nailed his negative role. The biblical references also gave the movie a certain gravitas. With Lucifer part 1 Prithviraj Sukumaran showcased a different side to Malayalam cinema. The second part of Lucifer comes after a significant gap of six years. Part two of Lucifer/ Empuraan has clearly upped the scale in terms of presenting a larger-than-life cinema while retaining the political undertones.
Lucifer part 1 image
The second part of Lucifer begins with a disturbing incident of communal violence. Hindu pilgrims are killed in a burning train leading to an absolute mayhem (we are reminded of Godhra). There is a lot of bloodshed with a small Muslim community being butchered, raped and killed by Balraj (Abhimanyu Singh) and his men. The lone survivor is Zayed Masood (Prithviraj Sukumaran). These beginning portions set the political undertones of part two. From here the focus shifts to God’s own country Kerala. Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) son of late PK Ramdas blinded by hatred towards his late father makes the decision of joining a party which is both extremist as well as communalist. Abhimanyu Singh’s Balraj is the head of this one. The subtle political subtext of the plot can be easily understood if the viewers scratch beneath the surface. Running parallel to this, an international conflict between two crime syndicates unfolds. At this juncture Stephen Nedumpally also known as Abraham Quereshi makes a comeback to the state of Kerala.
As already mentioned, Lucifer 2 has an intricate plot gradually revealing the various layers. The first half has a slow build up as it juggles between various tracks. This can be a patience tester for a section. Also, Mohanlal’s entry much like the first part takes its own sweet time but the slow build up is worth the wait in the eventual scheme of things.
The delicate balance between fan appeasement and the social commentary is a sheer delight to watch. At the beginning of the movie there is a quote “Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This angle comes out strongly in the character sketch of Tovino Thomas whose personality has undergone 360 degrees turn. The creeping ideological differences between Jathin Ramdas and the sister Priyadarshini played by Manju Warrier give the movie some of its best moments.
One of the major themes in Lucifer 2 is the angle of religious extremism and the terrible effect it has on humanity. There is an important dialogue delivered by Nikhat Khan in an extended special appearance regarding how the future generation shouldn’t get caught in the trap of religious propaganda and the dangers of religion as a tool in politics.
Mohanlal as Stephan Nedumpally also known as Abraham Quereshi/Lucifer once again delivers a strong act in spite of having a late entry. Mohanlal brings in the right amount of charisma and mystery making Stephen a very enigmatic person much like his other popular character George Kutty from the Drishyam films. The actor conveys a lot with his subtle expressions. A particular mention must be made of Mohanlal’s performance in the scenes where he meets Indrajit Sukumaran’s Govardhan and a pastor cum father figure. There is a visible political and religious subtext giving the viewers goosebumps.
Manju Warrier’s character has a different arc this time and the actress does a very good job in showcasing the evolution of Priyadarshini. The way she portrays the strong inner strength in a nuanced manner makes for a wonderful watch.
Prithviraj Sukumaran as Zaya Masood much like the first part has limited screen time, still he makes his presence amply felt. The backstory gives a certain emotional heft which Prithviraj makes complete use of. Of course, the dynamics between Stephan and Zaya could have done with more exploration, still the back story gives an emotional insight into why Zaya is a trusted aid of the titular protagonist.
Prithviraj and Mohanlal from a song in Lucifer/ Empuraan 2
Abhimanyu Singh as Balraj also makes a significant impact, although his character arc lacks the nuances of what Vivek Oberoi played in the first one. Tovino Thomas also shows his versatility with his excellent portrayal of a changed man.
Tovino Thomas also shows his versatility with his excellent portrayal of a changed man
Technically speaking Lucifer2 / Empuraan is a visual feast with its grand scale. The cinematography of Sujith Vasudev enhances the movies visual appeal. The background music is also of a very high standard particularly in the combination scenes of Mohanlal and Prithviraj.
Final word: Lucifer 2/ Empuraan is a worthy follow up. It treads on familiar lines while giving something new.
