Actor-directors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal have announced a sequel to Lucifer, the recent Malayalam political-drama, at a press conference held on Tuesday at Mohanlal’s residence in Kochi. Lucifer marked Prithviraj’s debut as director and was an ode of sorts to the star that is Mohanlal, who played the title role.
The sequel, titled Empuraan, will narrate Stephen Nedumbally’s (Mohanlal) life before and after the time period covered in Lucifer. The film will be a bigger project than Lucifer, said Prithviraj. Although the cast hasn’t been finalised, the team has decided on the locations for the new film.
Murali Gopi, the scenarist of Lucifer, and Antony Perumbavoor, who produced the film under Mohanlal’s home banner Ashirvad Cinemas, were present at the press meet. The shoot will begin after Mohanlal finishes his debut directorial Baroz, said Prithviraj.
Lucifer, which hit screens on March 28 this year, was a commercial success here and abroad. At the press conference, Antony said that Lucifer was the biggest commercial hit in Mohanlal’s career. The film revolves around Stephen Nedumbally, a politician from the high ranges in central Kerala, who is revealed to have a second identity – that of an international drug lord named Abram Khureshi. The film’s cast included Manju Warrier, Vivek Oberoi and Sai Kumar.
Prithviraj also made his debut as an independent producer this year, with Nine-9, a fantasy-thriller, directed by Jenoose Mohammad. The 37-year-old actor made his screen debut in 2002, and has acted in around 100 films in Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor twice – in 2006 and 2012, for Vasthavam and Celluloid respectively. He is currently acting in Brother’s Day and Aadujeevitham.
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Mohanlal, who turned 59 on May 21, is busy with the pre-production of Baroz, a fantasy drama, which he announced recently. The film will be shot in 3D, and the cast will have several non-Indian actors. Baroz will be based on a mythical tale written by Jijo Ponnoose, the maverick director of My Dear Kuttichathan, India’s first movie to use 3D technology. Baroz – Guardian Of The Gama’s Treasure, is about an archaic treasure left behind by Portuguese voyager and invader Vasco Da Gama, now guarded by an old man who is in the lookout for a worthy heir to pass it on to.