In a recent chat before the release of his directorial debut L2: Empuraan, Prithviraj Sukumaran shared with the media that his producer mentioned the film has already raked in Rs 60 Crore from advance bookings globally. While some people are skeptical about this number, given the excitement surrounding the Mohanlal film, it’s not entirely out of the question.

Industry experts are already forecasting that the movie could achieve the highest opening-day earnings in the Middle East, where the Malayali community is quite prominent. With all the buzz surrounding it, the film has already surpassed the advance booking numbers for Salman Khan’s eagerly awaited Eid release, Sikandar.

Empuraan outperforms Sikandar in the Middle East, the US, and Australia

Reports indicate that the success of Empuraan isn't limited to the Middle East. In Australia, it has already outperformed the Bollywood film, with the Salman Khan movie only securing 525 bookings by March 25, while Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj, has achieved an impressive 8,505 bookings, according to Bollywood Box Office. In the US, Empuraan made headlines by selling over 10,000 tickets after its trailer debuted in Times Square earlier this month, marking a historic moment for Malayalam cinema before its official release.

While these achievements are certainly a win for the producers, fans are more focused on local developments. Empuraan is on track to surpass Leo’s opening-day record of Rs 12 crore in Kerala, with screenings starting as early as 6 am and some theaters offering nearly 24 hours of back-to-back shows.

The exhibitors and theater owners association in Kerala, FEUOK, has expressed enthusiasm about how this film could help recover the significant losses the Malayalam film industry has faced in recent months, especially considering that only two films—Asif Ali’s Rekhachithram and Kunchacko Boban’s Officer On Duty—have been major hits in a year that has seen nearly 50 releases.

Empuraan buzz: Is it genuine or orchestrated?

Even with packed shows, some folks on social media are claiming that the buzz around Empuraan is artificially created, suggesting that the producers are reserving large blocks of tickets at various theaters, particularly outside of Kerala.

On the flip side, fans are quick to jump to the movie's defense, pointing out that they've been eagerly anticipating it since Lucifer came out in 2019. This film is expected to be one of the priciest Malayalam productions ever, featuring a star-studded lineup that includes Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Jerome Flynn, Eriq Ebouaney, Alexx O’Neil, and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Alongside Empuraan, other films hitting theaters in different states include Vikram’s Veera Dheera Sooran and Nithiin’s Robinhood.

Read Also: Salman Khan’s Sikandar: Cast, Plot, Release Date, and OTT Details Unveiled

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