Dulquer Salmaan’s latest release Kaantha, directed by Selvamani Selvaraj and produced by Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films, has managed to cross the Rs 17.73 crore India net milestone in just five days as per industry tracker Sacnilk. Apart from Salmaan, it features Bhagyashri Borse, Rana Daggubati, Samuthirakani and Bijesh Nagesh in key roles.
With its mix of intense drama and striking visuals, Kaantha has been praised for its layered narrative and strong performances especially by Salmaan and Borse. Critics have widely praised Salmaan’s performance as one of his most nuanced in recent years, while audiences have responded positively to the film’s themes of resilience and human connection. Though the movie had a promising start over the weekend, the weekday trend has shown the expected slowdown particularly on Monday and Tuesday.
Kaantha’s performance at the Box Office
According to Sacnilk, Kaantha opened the Box Office with Rs 4.35 crores on Day 1, followed by a jump to Rs 5 crores on Day 2. The film maintained momentum on Day 3 with a Rs 4.5 crore collection, bringing the opening weekend total to Rs 13.85 crores. As expected, collections dipped on Day 4 (Monday) to Rs 1.8 crore, marking a 60% drop. The film recovered slightly on Day 5 (Tuesday) with Rs 1.97 crore, but it’s future remains shaky.
Currently, the five-day India net collection stands at Rs 17.73 crore, a solid milestone for the Dulquer Salmaan-starrer. While the film has performed well in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, sustaining momentum through weekdays remains the challenge.
Theatre occupancy on Day 4
On Day 5, theatre occupancy reflected the Monday slump. Tamil occupancy averaged 12.85%, with Chennai recording 17% across 220 shows. Smaller centres like Pondicherry and Trichy fared better with 29.25% across 28 shows and 31.50% for 42 shows respectively.
Telugu occupancy was lower at 10.91%, though Hyderabad led with 12.75% across 374 shows. Guntur showed strong support with 19.50% occupancy from 65 shows, while Vijayawada had 85 shows at 11.25% occupancy and Vizag-Visakhapatnam had 100 shows with 12.25% occupancy. Bengaluru, with 266 shows, saw a modest turnout at 14.50% occupancy.
About Kaantha
Kaantha is set in 1950s Madras and follows the mysterious murder of Kumari, a rising actress whose untimely death shakes the film industry and exposes the darker undercurrents of ambition and betrayal. At the heart of the story is Kaantha, played by Dulquer Salmaan, a man caught in the web of secrets and lies that surround the case.
As the investigation unfolds, the film blurs the line between cinema and reality, weaving together elements of noir, romance and political intrigue. What begins as a search for the truth behind Kumari’s murder evolves into a gripping exploration of human relationships and a lesson that all that glitters is not gold.
