L2: Empuraan Eid release starring Mohanlal sparks advance booking frenzy in UAE: 40,000 tickets to Prithviraj directorial already sold

Dubai: The Empuraan mania has officially begun in the UAE. Slated for a grand Eid release, the Mohanlal-starrer is already creating waves at the box office — with local distributors Phars Film and Ahmad Golchin confirming that over 40,000 tickets have been sold in advance across the country.

In a rare move, the first show kicks off at 4:30am on Thursday, March 27, marking a very early start to the long-awaited sequel to Lucifer.

Over 1500 screens across the GCC will screen this film over the Eid weekend.

Gulf News tried booking seats and succeeded, but be warned they’re vanishing fast, with several screens already sold out.

Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, Empuraan is the high-octane continuation of the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer. Promising larger-than-life action, political intrigue, and Mohanlal in top form as the enigmatic Stephen Nedumpally, this film is poised to be one of the biggest Malayalam releases of the year.

Interestingly, its first chapter has re-released in the UAE cinemas this week in the run-up to L2: Empuraan's roll-out. Packed with slow-motion action, punchy one-liners, and dramatic political backstabbing, the film still has a lot going for it. My gripe? While Lucifer hints at the murky world of dynasty politics and power struggles, it never digs too deep. Instead, it revels in Mohanlal’s larger-than-life persona, with moments designed to make fans whistle—whether it’s him folding his mundu (unstitched cloth) before a fight or delivering scripture-laced punchlines. With a stellar supporting cast, including Manju Warrier, Indrajith, and Tovino Thomas, Lucifer remains an entertaining political melodrama, but the big question is will its sequel L2: Empuraan match up to all this hype.