Lucifer is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller film directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran in his directorial debut. The film was written by Murali Gopy and produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas. It stars Mohanlal in the title role, alongside Vivek Oberoi, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in supporting roles. The film released theatrically on 28 March 2019.
Upon release, Lucifer emerged as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time and became a major commercial success. It was the first installment in a planned trilogy, with its sequel L2: Empuraan following in 2025.
| Title | Lucifer |
|---|---|
| Language | Malayalam |
| Director | Prithviraj Sukumaran |
| Writer | Murali Gopy |
| Producer | Antony Perumbavoor |
| Production company | Aashirvad Cinemas |
| Lead actor | Mohanlal |
| Music | Deepak Dev |
| Cinematography | Sujith Vaassudev |
| Editing | Samjith Mohammed |
| Release date | 28 March 2019 |
| Genre | Political action thriller |
| Sequel | L2: Empuraan (2025) |
The story is set against the backdrop of Kerala politics following the death of P. K. Ramdas, a respected statesman and chief minister. A power struggle ensues within his party, the IUF (Indian Union Front), as factions compete to claim leadership. Ramdas's son-in-law Bobby, played by Vivek Oberoi, attempts to manipulate the political vacuum for his own ends, including drug trafficking interests. Stephen Nedumpally, the deceased leader's most trusted associate, played by Mohanlal, intervenes to protect Ramdas's legacy and his daughter Priyadarshini, played by Manju Warrier. The narrative gradually reveals Stephen's hidden identity as a global figure known by the alias "Khureshi-Ab'raam".
Lucifer marked the directorial debut of actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. The screenplay was written by Murali Gopy, who had previously collaborated on politically themed Malayalam films such as Left Right Left and Tiyaan. Principal photography commenced in 2018, with filming taking place across locations in Kerala as well as international locations. The film was shot by cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, while the background score and songs were composed by Deepak Dev.
The soundtrack was composed by Deepak Dev. The track "Empuraane" became particularly popular, while songs were written by lyricists including Manu Manjith. The background score, featuring leitmotifs associated with the Stephen Nedumpally character, was widely noted in the film's reception.
The film was released worldwide on 28 March 2019. It opened to strong commercial response in Kerala and at international box offices, particularly in the Gulf countries, the United States, and other regions with a Malayali diaspora. The film set several opening-day and opening-weekend records for Malayalam cinema and went on to become, at the time, the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever released.
Critically, the film received generally positive reviews, with praise directed at Mohanlal's performance, Prithviraj's direction, the production design, and the action choreography. Some reviewers commented on the elevated, mass-market style of storytelling characteristic of star-driven cinema.
Lucifer was conceived as the first part of a trilogy. The sequel, titled L2: Empuraan, was directed again by Prithviraj Sukumaran, written by Murali Gopy, and released in 2025. A third film in the series has been announced as part of the planned trilogy.
Lucifer is regarded as a landmark in contemporary Malayalam cinema for its scale, pan-Indian production values, and commercial reach. It demonstrated the viability of large-budget Malayalam productions in markets traditionally dominated by Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema. The film also marked a significant turning point in Mohanlal's career in the latter 2010s and established Prithviraj Sukumaran as a director capable of handling commercial big-budget projects.