“Breaking Barriers: Prithviraj Sukumaran on Malayalam Cinema and L2: Empuraan”

Prithviraj Sukumaran, the director of the highly anticipated L2: Empuraan, recently spoke at the trailer launch on Thursday, sharing his thoughts on the current state of Malayalam cinema, his experiences with the legendary Mohanlal, and his ambitions for the film.

 

Prithviraj began by addressing the evolving landscape of Malayalam cinema, stating, “Malayalam industry is doing wonderfully well. We are going through a golden phase in our industry. We are making beautiful films, and wonderful filmmakers and actors are coming out with splendid performances. There is nothing to complain about as far as Malayalam cinema is concerned.”

 

He continued to reflect on the changing dynamics of cinema distribution, especially in the context of pan-India films, saying, “Ever since the phenomenon of cinema traveling across the country, and terminology like ‘pan-India’ being coined, theatrical distribution has always looked at films that can bring in the first-day crowd to the theatres, looking at it as a piece of entertainment. Malayalam cinema, however, is not known for big-ticket, mainstream popcorn entertainers. We are known for making a different kind of cinema, which is yet to make its own space within the distribution and theatrical space across the country. I am sure we will get there.”

 

Speaking about L2: Empuraan, Prithviraj added, “But having said that, this particular film, in a way, is our attempt, as rightly said, at gatecrashing into that phenomenon. This is very much a large-scale, big-canvas, big-ticket commercial action entertainer. At least that’s what I’ve tried to make. Whether I have succeeded or not, I don’t know. Maybe we are hoping this will break a few barriers. This will make a few people think, ‘Hang on, next time a Malayalam film comes to a small screen in Jharkhand, maybe it’s worth trying on a weekend.’ We dream big down south, and this time we have managed to follow it up with some seriously good work.”

 

Prithviraj also spoke fondly about the two icons of Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal and Mammootty, and how they have influenced his generation. “For my generation, especially, the reason we are in cinema must be Mohanlal sir and Mammootty sir to a very big extent. Because we grew up watching them. I grew up trying to walk like Mohanlal sir. I grew up trying to talk like Mammootty sir. My dad was an actor from a previous generation, so when I was conscious of being influenced by the art form, it was these two guys.”

 

Finally, he shared his admiration for Mohanlal’s process, saying, “He is a director's actor. Sometimes I think it would be amazing for my friends in the media to come and see the process of Mohanlal. It gives you so much insight into what an absolute top-of-the-line actor goes through in his process.”

 

Empuraan is scheduled to be released in theatres worldwide on 27 March 2025.

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