Prithviraj and Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan fails to surpass Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava’s day 1 opening | Hindi Movie News

Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s L2: Empuraan has set a new benchmark for Malayalam cinema, emerging as the biggest opener ever for a Malayalam film. The film raked in an impressive Rs 22 crore on its opening day across all languages, with the Malayalam version alone contributing Rs 19.45 crore as per Sacnilk. However, despite its strong performance, L2: Empuraan fell short of surpassing Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava, which continues to hold the record for the biggest opening day of the year in Indian cinema.

A Record-Breaking Start for Malayalam Cinema

L2: Empuraan had generated massive pre-release buzz, particularly in Kerala, where Mohanlal’s fan base ensured an extraordinary advance booking response. The film sold over Rs 19.4 crore worth of tickets before release, setting high expectations for a blockbuster run. By the end of the day, however, the total collections stood at ₹22 crore, indicating that spot bookings did not match the pre-release hype.

Second-Biggest Indian Opening of the Year

While the film failed to outdo Chhaava, it still secured the second-highest opening for an Indian film this year. Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal, stunned the industry with its mammoth opening day collection of Rs 31 crore, leaving even some of the biggest pan-India films trailing in its wake. The fact that a regional film like L2: Empuraan came close to Chhaava’s numbers is a testament to the growing influence of Malayalam cinema on the national stage.

Sustainability in Question?

Despite its record-breaking start in the Malayalam industry, the film’s overall collection pattern suggests potential sustainability concerns. With an advance sale of Rs 19.4 crore but a total day-one collection of Rs 22 crore, the limited gap between the two figures hints at lower walk-in audience interest. This raises concerns about the film’s long-term theatrical run, especially in non-Malayalam markets.
The Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu versions contributed marginally to the total collection, with Hindi accounting for only Rs 50 lakh and Tamil and Telugu bringing in Rs 80 lakh and Rs 1.2 crore, respectively. This suggests that L2: Empuraan may struggle to maintain momentum beyond its core Malayalam-speaking audience.

The Road Ahead

For L2: Empuraan to sustain its box office momentum, positive word-of-mouth and strong weekend hold will be crucial. The film has undoubtedly created history for Malayalam cinema, but whether it can maintain its pace and deliver a long-lasting impact at the box office remains to be seen. With competition from upcoming Bollywood and South Indian releases, the next few days will be critical in determining L2: Empuraan’s ultimate box office fate.