Mohanlal praises Prithviraj as a 'ruthless' filmmaker destined for greatness

Actor Mohanlal praised Prithviraj Sukumaran, calling him a filmmaker destined to direct, during the teaser launch event of the movie 'Empuraan.' Mohanlal commended Prithviraj for his directorial skills, emphasising his ability to extract the best from actors, sometimes even with a 'ruthless' approach. Mohanlal expressed his faith in Prithviraj as an actor and filmmaker, predicting that he would become one of the greatest directors in the country.

"Prithviraj once said that he became a director unexpectedly, but that’s not entirely true. He was always meant to be a director. I have worked with many directors, and it’s remarkable how he delivers a fresh visual experience while evolving with the changing times in cinema. Prithviraj knows how to push us to give our best, and that’s exactly how cinema should be made.

The reason actors perform well in a film is because of the director. No matter which film I do, I always place my trust in the director. Many of the people seated here today have directed films I’ve acted in, and I trust them all. As an actor, I have immense faith in Prithviraj and believe he will become one of India’s finest directors because of the kind of cinema he creates. He was destined to direct these kinds of films, and we are only contributing to bringing those films to life.

I’ve acted alongside his father, know his mother, and am familiar with his family, but that’s not why I’m saying this. Dedication is a key factor in any endeavour. Prithviraj is fully committed to his craft, and that reflects in his work. He understands how to present a character and bring out the soul of a story, which is crucial for a film’s success. Every director works with dedication, but Prithviraj has a clear vision for how to shoot a story like this."

Reflecting on the challenges faced during the making of 'Empuraan,' Mohanlal added, "We encountered numerous hurdles while shooting this film, and we endured it all with patience. There’s no need to elaborate on those struggles, but what matters is how we overcame them to bring this movie to you. I believe Prithviraj has given 100% dedication to this project, and I’ve witnessed it firsthand. I’ve seen the film, and you’re about to experience it."

Mohanlal also addressed the anticipation surrounding the release of 'Empuraan.' "Wherever I go, people ask me when 'Empuraan' will release. It’s because they watched 'Lucifer' and are eagerly waiting for its sequel. That film had a magical quality, and we owe it to Murali Gopi’s writing. After 'Lucifer,' we have 'Empuraan,' and I pray that all three films in this franchise, including the third part, which Prithviraj already has a title for, turn out to be films touched by the divine."

Mohanlal also spoke about the franchise’s producer Antony Perumbavoor and the challenges faced during production. "Antony trusted Prithviraj and the team wholeheartedly. I know the amount of effort and sacrifices Antony has made for this film. As a producer, I understand the pain he must have gone through. There were days we couldn’t shoot due to bad weather, and those delays are part of filmmaking. The unit was relatively small, with about 400 people on set. I still need to learn from Antony what it means to call a film a truly ‘big’ production."
He concluded by applauding the team’s hard work and sincerity, expressing confidence that their efforts would be reflected in the film’s success.