L2: Empuraan, the highly anticipated sequel to Lucifer, is making waves at the box office. Starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, this political action thriller has become the second highest-grossing Malayalam film in history. The film is now just a step away from entering the 100 crore club at the Indian box office.
Strong Start and Solid Growth
L2: Empuraan opened to a powerful response and maintained a strong pace through its first week. Though its daily collections have now dropped below ₹3 crores, the film showed a healthy 15% growth on its second Sunday. On Day 11, it earned ₹3.85 crores, pushing its total collection in India to ₹98.35 crores.
That means the movie fell short of the ₹100 crore mark by just ₹1.65 crores. Still, it’s only a matter of time before the film crosses that milestone, making it only the second Malayalam movie ever to do so.
Overtakes ‘2018’ to Become #2
Earlier, L2: Empuraan surpassed the lifetime earnings of the film 2018, which had made ₹92.85 crores, becoming the second biggest Mollywood hit in history. But now, it’s eyeing the top spot held by Manjummel Boys.
Competing with Manjummel Boys
To become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, L2: Empuraan needs to earn another ₹43.65 crores. That’s a big ask, especially since the movie’s box office pace has started to slow down in its second week. With weekday collections typically dropping, it looks tough for Empuraan to beat Manjummel Boys in India.
Budget vs Box Office – A Concern?
While the film is doing well in terms of numbers, there’s still a concern about its return on investment. L2: Empuraan is the most expensive Malayalam movie ever made, with a production budget of around ₹180 crores.
So far, the movie has recovered about 54.63% of its budget from Indian box office earnings. That means it still has a long way to go before it can be called a financial success in India. There’s a high chance the film might end up as a loss-maker domestically if it doesn’t pick up more steam.
Worldwide Performance to the Rescue
Despite the slow pace in India, the global numbers are telling a different story. L2: Empuraan is expected to cross ₹250 crores in worldwide gross. That’s a strong performance and could help make up for the lower domestic earnings. When international collections and satellite/digital rights are included, the film may still turn a profit.
Final Thoughts
L2: Empuraan is a huge milestone for Malayalam cinema. While it may struggle to beat Manjummel Boys in India or recover its massive budget from domestic earnings alone, its global performance shows that Malayalam films are expanding their reach and impact. Whether or not it becomes the biggest hit ever, L2: Empuraan has already made history.
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