L2: Empuraan and the Fall of the Superhuman

Can the failure of the much-hyped commercial film L2: Empuraan at the box office also be indicative of the rejection by the audiences of superhero self-perceptions of superstars and their superhuman cinematic characterisations by certain film directors and scriptwriters?

Exceptional Marketing Hype

The multilingual action thriller L2: Empuraan, produced at a cost of 180 crores, the highest among Malayalam films, was released for theatrical views on 27 March 2025. The film had a marketing strategy unprecedented in the Malayalam film industry. Marketing analysts had pointed out that more than 350 brands, including TV channels, jewellery, steel, auto, textile & clothing, and homes & construction materials, have booked cinema ad spots across theatres in Kerala. Gautam Dutta, CEO- Revenue & Operations, PVR INOX Ltd, remarked, “The excitement surrounding L2: Empuraan is truly extraordinary. …Empuraan isn’t just a film — it’s an event, an experience, and a cultural phenomenon that’s only growing bigger by the day.”
Prithviraj Sukumaran as director of the film, the superstar cast with Mohanlal (as Stephen Nedumpally) in the lead role and others like Prithviraj Sukumaran (as Zayed Masood), Abhimanyu Singh (as Baba Bajrangi), Manju Warrier (as Priyadarshini Ramdas) and Tovino Thomas (as Jathin Ramdas), Indrajith Sukumaran (as Govardhan) and many foreigners, has in itself huge marketing possibilities.

The film landed in a controversy – with BJP and Hindutva forces raising objections to the presentation of the Gujarat riots, where Muslims and Muslim women in particular were subjected to brutality. The above incident and Mohan Lal, on behalf of the entire team of the film, offering a public apology could also have acted as a marketing strategy to boost the viewership of the film.

Data from various sources on box office collection do not show that the marketing strategy has worked to the advantage of the L2:Empuraan team. Sacnilk data says that the film earned an estimated ₹ 105.47 Cr India net during 23 days from the release. According to the Times of India entertainment desk, L2: Empuraan faced a sharp decline in box office collections, crashing by over 80% in its third week. The film was not able to reach its cost of production. Mohan Lal has given a different figure. On 19th April (on the 24th day) he took on ‘X’ saying that L2: Empuraan has managed to collect Rs 325 crores in 30 days.

Nevertheless, it is clear that in spite of a massive marketing strategy, L2:Empuraan has not mustered a sizeable box office collection when compared, for instance, with the performance of Pushpa 2: The Rise, another commercial film released in 2024. Telugu superstar Allu Arjun’s film earned Rs 1232.30 crores domestically and Rs 1738.45 crores globally on its 53rd day. Though not the political implications of Hindu-Muslim conflict, corruption at the highest levels of political leadership is a central theme of Pushpa 2. But what provided the viewership advantage to Pushpa 2? Had each film offered something different, which was acceptable to viewers of one and not the other?

Depiction of Superheroes in L2: Empuran and Pushpa 2: The Rise

In L2: Empuraan, Mohan Lal is a superhero, and so is Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2. But what makes the difference? Mohan Lal’s cinematic characterisation is that of a flawless superman and not just a superhero. To recall, “Superman” is a specific superhero character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, epitomised by his superhuman strength, flawlessness and his commitment to truth and justice. In L2: Empuraan Mohan Lal has superhuman strength, has the capacity to be physically available where a saviour’s presence is required, can overcome any kind of threat, is flawless, will do anything for perceived truth and justice, and has an exclusive origin. Prithviraj Sukumaran is a junior superhuman in his appearances and actions. Contrast this with the characterisation of Pushpa in Pushpa 2: The Rise. Allu Arjun performs superhero activities like in any other commercial films. But he is not flawless. Allu Arjun is a character with contradictions. He fights like a superhero but gets wounded. He is physically invincible but handicapped. He is strategic but also innocent. Allu Arjun is more a hero from a normal human being than a superhuman.

Audiences Prefer Flawed Humans to Superhumans

Now, can we say that audiences prefer an innocent and vulnerable superhero to an invincible and flawless superman in the cinematic arena? Is there more recognition for those coming from diverse social, ethnic and gender backgrounds? Though this is an area that requires further examination, box office collection data of Indian commercial films indicates viewers are increasingly against superhumans hovering over their artistic sensibilities. A caution that Indian scriptwriters, film directors and superstars cannot dispense with.

J John is Editor, Labour File, and Former Executive Director of CEC, New Delhi