Mohanlal calls Prithviraj Sukumaran ‘a very cruel director’, Mammootty praises him for making the ‘biggest small film’ Empuraan

Watch Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Empuraan teaser here:

Notably, the teaser was launched on Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of producer Antony Perumbavoor’s Aashirvad Cinemas, which has co-produced Empuraan. “Antony’s Aashirvad needs special blessings today. I don’t know what qualification I have to shower blessings, but I wish all the best and love to Aashirvad, Antony and my dear Lal (Mohanlal),” Mammootty added.

Countering Prithviraj’s self-effacing remark of being an “accidental director”, Mohanlal hailed him as the “chosen one”, commending his dedication to the craft. “He is a very cruel director. He will extract what he wants from us and that’s how films need to be made. Actors perform well because of their directors. I have worked with many directors and a couple of them are here tonight. I trust my directors. As an actor, I have high hopes for Prithviraj. He will be one of the best directors in India,” he said.

Check out Empuraan teaser launch event stills here:

Director Prithviraj Sukumaran at his Empuraan’s teaser launch.

Actor Manju Warrier will reprise her role from Lucifer in Empuraan.

Empuraan star Tovino Thomas with actor-director Basil Joseph.

Malayalam megastar Mammootty with the core team of Empuraan.

Mohanlal and his wife Suchitra a lamp, marking the official commencement of the teaser launch event.

Echoing Mammootty’s playful humour, Mohanlal also jested about the film’s scale, mentioning Empuraan’s sets were so “small” comprising of just (a whopping) 300-400 people. “If he considers this a small film, I’m curious to see what his idea of a big film looks like,” he added.

Adding a personal touch to the evening, Mohanlal’s wife Suchitra expressed her excitement for the film while sharing her emotional connection to the teaser’s release date — January 26. She revealed that the date holds special significance for her family, as her father, veteran film producer K Balaji, often released his films on this day. She also noted that the occasion is even more meaningful for them as it marks her late parents’ wedding anniversary.

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Serving as the second chapter in a planned trilogy that began with Lucifer, Empuraan will have Mohanlal reprising his role as Khureshi Ab’raam aka Stephen Nedumpally from the 2019 blockbuster. The movie will also have Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil and Sachin Khedekar reprising their respective roles from Lucifer. Bankrolled jointly by Antony Perumbavoor and Subaskaran Allirajah under the banners of Aashirvad Cinemas and Lyca Productions, respectively, the film will hit the screens on March 27, 2025.

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