Social media divided over alleged political undertones in Mohanlal-Prithviraj's L2: Empuraan

Mohanlal’s biggie L2: Empuraan, the second instalment in the three-part Lucifer franchise, has sparked intense debate on social media, with some perceiving political undertones critical of right-wing ideologies. Certain right-wing commentators expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that director Prithviraj Sukumaran misled Mohanlal and his supporters. A Facebook post by Sanathana Dharma accused the filmmaker of deception, while HinduPost labelled the film as “Hindu-bashing propaganda.” Pratheesh Vishwanath, the founder of Hindu Seva Kendram and an NDA-aligned figure, also criticised the film’s intent.

Meanwhile, left-leaning voices, initially reserved, later commended Prithviraj for his bold storytelling. Bineesh Kodiyeri praised the filmmakers’ efforts, though some left-wing commentators cautioned that the film subtly reinforced right-wing narratives. Congress supporters, including former MLA VT Balram, expressed amusement at the controversy. One viewer remarked that Prithviraj had strategically engaged right-wing audiences by initially appearing to target “jihadis”, only to subvert expectations later. The debate surrounding the film has since continued to fuel discussions across political lines.

L2: Empuraan, released worldwide on March 27, has opened to mixed responses, though it is reportedly on a record-breaking spree at the global box office. An excerpt from the CE review of the film reads, "The scale is several times bigger and so should have been the stakes. But Khureshi-Ab'raam (KA) is established as so powerful that no obstacle ever poses a real threat to him. He has his men everywhere—from top international intelligence agencies to rival cartels to local political parties, which makes him a near-invincible figure. This, in a way, makes Empuraan predictable to the T, especially when compared to Lucifer, which rode high on the enigma around its protagonist."