Empuraan costumer designer reveals what went into creating Khureshi Ab'raam’s look: 'This was the challenge that I did not face in...'

Prithviraj Sukumaran's Empuraan is hogging all the limelight in Malayalam cinema with the fans having heated discussions about each and every aspect of the Mohanlal-starrer. Mohanlal will be seen as Khureshi Ab'raam in L2 Empuraan, the second installment in the Lucifer franchise. All the posters unveiled so far and glimpses from the teaser showed the Malayalam superstar in the all-black attire of Khureshi Ab'raam, referred to as a powerful figure. Now, Sujith Sudhakaran, the costume designer of Lucifer and Empuraan, has talked about how they put up the black ensemble for the Malayalam superstar. 

Mohanlal as Khureshi Ab'raam in Empuraan

In a recent interview with Reporter Live, Empuraan costume designer Sujith Sudhakaran talked about the attire for Mohanlal’s character Khureshi Ab'raam. For those who haven’t watched Lucifer, the 2019 film first showed Mohanlal as Stephen, in the all-white look of a politician, only for him to declare that he was Khureshi Ab'raam at the end. 

This change in persona reflects in the attire of Khureshi, who is being called an overlord. As Stephen turns into Khureshi, he ditches the all-white look and embraces black, complete with jackets and shades.  

Commenting about this, Sujith said that Empuraan picks up from where Lucifer ended. It is the same character but we need to bring a freshness, he explained.  

Also read - Lucifer: Why you should watch Mohanlal-Prithviraj's film in theatres before Empuraan release 

For that, he studied more about the costume for nearly two months. “The jacket he is wearing was created. I never think of going to the shop and buying a readymade item,” said Sujith, who has also worked with Mohanlal in Marakkar, Bro Daddy and Malaikottai Vaaliban. 

He remarked, 'This was the challenge that I did not face in other Mohanlal films". He said that he was mindful of even the smallest detail, from the thread to stitching and material. He also said that they made five or 10 jackets and discarded them. “That’s our contribution to such films,” Sujith said.  

Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, will make its big release in theatres worldwide on March 27, 2025. Meanwhile, the Empuraan trailer has been censored and is likely to release on March 17, 2025.

Also read - Prithviraj Sukumaran on L2 Empuraan: Don’t know if it’s the Lucifer sequel people expect