Lucifer Movie Review: A Stylish Action Thriller

The film opens in God’s own country, where the supreme leader of the ruling party, Ramdas, dies suddenly, leaving a vacuum in both the electoral sphere and the state’s leadership. The power struggle that follows is immediate and ugly. His daughter, Priyadarshini Ramdas (Manju Warrier), is the natural heir, but she’s sidelined by a faction led by the cunning Bobby (Vivek Oberoi), who sees himself as the true successor. Into this chaotic arena steps Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal), a man of few words and immense influence-a fixer, a philanthropist, and a ghost in the political machine. The thin line between good and bad blurs as forces emerge that are hitherto unheard of, leading to a showdown that involves crime syndicates, international arms dealers, and a mysterious underworld figure known as Khureshi-Ab’raam. The plot twists are plentiful, but they rarely feel cheap; the script keeps its cards close, and the reveal is satisfying if slightly telegraphed.

Prithviraj Sukumaran directs with the swagger of someone who has studied the greats-think the operatic ambition of Tamil cinema’s political epics mixed with the punchy, no-nonsense storytelling of the Malayalam mainstream. The film looks gorgeous, shot by Sujith Vasudev in a palette of gold, black, and blood red, with a score by Deepak Dev that swells at every dramatic turn. But the real show is Mohanlal. As Stephen Nedumpally, he is a study in controlled menace. He barely raises his voice, yet you feel his weight in every frame. His transformation into the fabled Khureshi-Ab’raam is a masterclass in slow-burn reveal. Vivek Oberoi, as the reptilian Bobby, delivers a performance that’s delightfully theatrical-he chews scenery with relish, but it works because his character is written as a comic-book villain in a world that plays it straight. Manju Warrier brings genuine steel and vulnerability to Priyadarshini, grounding the fictional politics in something human.

The action is polished but not groundbreaking-gunfights and hand-to-hand combat are crisp, but the film’s real battles are fought in boardrooms and backroom deals. The dialogue is sharp, with lines that have entered the lexicon; Stephen’s quiet remark, “Power should never be hungry,” carries the weight of a manifesto. The film’s biggest weakness is its length. At nearly three hours, the middle section drags, particularly in the extended setup of the political factions. Some subplots-like Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) and his romantic subplot-feel like filler, designed to pad runtime rather than deepen the drama. Still, the final act is a crackerjack payoff, with a cliffhanger that, seven years later, still has fans waiting for a sequel that’s yet to officially materialize.

Pros

• Mohanlal delivers a career-defining performance-commanding, layered, and magnetic.
• Prithviraj’s direction is assured, with striking visuals and a confident pace in the first and third acts.
• The political intrigue is well-constructed, weaving real-world themes into a fictional frame without feeling preachy.
• Vivek Oberoi’s Bobby is a memorable antagonist-over-the-top, but perfectly tuned to the film’s tone.
• The score and sound design elevate every key scene, from quiet confrontations to explosive action.

Cons

• The 174-minute runtime is bloated; the middle act sags with unnecessary subplots and repetitive scenes.
• Some dialogue leans into melodrama, undercutting the otherwise grounded realism.
• Tovino Thomas and Saniya Iyyappan are underutilized, their characters feeling like narrative afterthoughts.
• The cliffhanger ending, while effective, feels like a marketing hook rather than a natural conclusion.

“Lucifer” is a flawed gem. It tries to be an epic and often succeeds, but its ambition occasionally trips over its own running time. What saves it is Mohanlal’s gravitational pull and Prithviraj’s clear vision. This is a film made for the big screen-loud, proud, and unapologetically grand. In a landscape where political thrillers often settle for being tedious or shallow, “Lucifer” dares to be both entertaining and smart. It’s not the masterpiece some fans claim, but it’s a damn good time. If you haven’t seen it yet, rectify that. If you have, you probably already know that, in the end, it’s all about the silence before the storm.