BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 17 - Superstar Rajinikanth has reacted strongly to Thalapathy Vijay's political victory, calling it a historic achievement that even surpassed the political success of legendary actors-turned-politicians MGR and NTR. During his latest media interaction, Rajinikanth said Vijay had accomplished something extraordinary by winning independently while taking on both national and regional political giants, calling his victory remarkable. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) "Vijay has achieved something even bigger than what MGR and NTR did. He won independently while taking on the BJP at the Centre and the two major Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu. It gives me both surprise and happiness," Rajinikanth said. The statement has instantly gone viral across social media, with fans and political observers calling it one of the biggest endorsements Vijay has received from the film fraternity since entering politics. Rajinikanth's comparison with legendary figures like MGR and NTR has especially caught attention, considering their immense impact on both cinema and politics in South India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Vijay's political rise has become a major talking point in Tamil Nadu over the last year. His independent political strategy and growing public support have positioned him as a serious force in the state's political landscape. The actor-turned-politician has been sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with alliance support, after his own party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the recently concluded assembly elections.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - Tamil star Suriya's comeback arc is getting stronger with each passing day as he seems to have finally found his big-screen roar again, as action drama Karuppu is heading for a strong jump on its second day at the box office after an impressive worldwide opening of around 29 crores gross. Directed by RJ Balaji, the film opened to excellent occupancy across Tamil Nadu and performed strongly in Telugu markets and the rest of India markets as well. Despite the last-minute release delay caused by financial hurdles, the audience response remained solid, and the positive word of mouth appears to be pushing the film further on Saturday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu collected around 15.50 crores net in India on Day 1, translating to nearly 18 crores gross domestically. Overseas markets also contributed strongly, taking the worldwide opening to the 29 crores mark, which is the third biggest for Suriya, and easily the biggest opening of 2026 for a Tamil film. Normally, South Indian films tend to drop on day 2 after a strong start, but Karuppu is defying the odds as it is showing a strong jump at the domestic box office. As of 5 PM, it has already almost matched the opening day figures (tracked gross), with strong evening and night shows expected to push the collection further. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) At this point, the film is looking to score 25+ crores gross comfortably, with chances of going close to 27-28 crores on its second day domestically. In Tamil Nadu, after 11.25 crores gross opening day, Karuppu is heading towards the 15+ crores range collection on Saturday, which is a solid jump. The other areas are also witnessing a similar trend, which is a heartening sign. The buzz around the film has been extraordinary over the last 48 hours. The delay in release, instead of hurting the film, has amplified curiosity among fans. On BookMyShow, the ticket sales touched record levels for a Suriya starrer on release day, signalling a strong comeback for the actor after a mixed theatrical phase.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - Veteran actor-politician Kamal Haasan has made six major demands to the newly formed Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, seeking stronger support for the Tamil film industry. The actor personally met Vijay in Chennai and submitted a formal letter outlining the requests on behalf of the cinema industry and film audiences. In the letter dated May 16, 2026, Kamal Haasan congratulated Vijay on becoming the Chief Minister and praised his leadership vision. He stated that Tamil cinema is facing several challenges and needs government intervention to protect theatres, producers, distributors, and audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The six demands raised by Kamal Haasan are: - Launch of a Tamil Nadu Government OTT platform for Tamil films, documentaries, and independent cinema. - Abolition of the Local Body Entertainment Tax, which he said is hurting the film business. - Formation of a strong anti-piracy team under the Tamil Nadu Police Cyber Crime Department to tackle online piracy in real time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) - Permission for 5 shows per day in theatres across Tamil Nadu to improve theatre revenues and support film exhibition. - A mandatory 8-week OTT release window for Tamil films to protect theatrical business. - Introduction of a film production incentive scheme offering up to 10% subsidy for films that complete more than 50% of their shooting in Tamil Nadu. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Kamal Haasan also highlighted that Tamil cinema is not just an entertainment business but a cultural identity for the state. He expressed hope that Vijay's government would help Tamil cinema regain its strength and global reach. The meeting has generated huge attention because both Kamal Haasan and Vijay have strong political and cinema backgrounds. Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10 after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhamaal 4 has a new release date, with the film now scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026. As per an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, the sequel has moved from its initial July 3 slot to avoid a potential box office overlap with Welcome to the Jungle, which is currently slated for June 26. This adjustment provides both big-budget comedies with a better opportunity to find their audience without competing for the same screens immediately upon release. What makes this move particularly noteworthy is the reported gentleman's agreement between superstars Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar. According to trade sources, the two actors had a direct conversation and agreed that releasing two large-scale comedies just a week apart would likely cannibalize each other's business. By shifting the dates, they have ensured that both projects have enough breathing space to maximize their box office potential in a very busy summer market. Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, remains the first big comedy event of the season. It features a sprawling cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, and Paresh Rawal, among many others. By moving Dhamaal 4 to July 17, the industry ensures a nearly three-week gap between these two tentpole releases. This window is considered ideal in today's theatrical environment, as it allows the first film to exhaust its primary run before the next major release arrives to claim screens and audience attention. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhamaal 4 marks the return of the popular franchise under director Indra Kumar. The film brings back the beloved core cast of Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Mishra, and Jaaved Jaaferi, while adding new faces like Ravi Kishan, Esha Gupta, and Sanjeeda Shaikh. Interestingly, Arshad Warsi is part of both ensembles, making the staggered release even more logical for the trade and for the actors involved, ensuring their work doesn't compete with itself. From a trade perspective, this reshuffle could turn the summer of 2026 into one of the biggest seasons for the comedy genre in recent history. Instead of fighting for the same screens, both films are now positioned as standalone theatrical events. This rare example of collaboration over competition reflects a maturing industry where stars and producers are increasingly prioritizing long-term profitability and word-of-mouth over high-profile clashes at the ticket window. The production of Dhamaal 4 involves a massive collaboration between T-Series, Devgn Films, and Maruti International. With Indra Kumar at the helm and a production team including Bhushan Kumar and Kumar Mangat Pathak, the film is poised for a wide release. The revised plan allows for a cleaner run to bring in the moolah, ensuring that the franchise has every opportunity to succeed when it hits theaters on July 17, 2026.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Raja Shivaji is showing solid staying power as it moves into its third week of release. While many films face a sharp decline after the initial two-week period, this historical drama has managed to keep a steady pace, continuing to be a reliable earner for the Marathi film industry. The film’s ability to maintain a consistent audience suggests that the subject matter is resonating well, allowing it to navigate the arrival of new titles without losing its core momentum at the ticket windows. On its 15th day, which was its third Friday, the film brought in a net collection of 1.45 crore. While this is a 23.7 percent drop from the previous day's 1.90 crore, it is a very resilient performance considering the arrival of new competition. This takes the total India net collection to 78.40 crore, while the India gross has climbed to 92.81 crore. The film operated across 2,142 shows nationwide, showing that exhibitors still have immense faith in its ability to bring in the moolah. The language-wise breakdown clearly shows where the film's primary strength lies. The Marathi version remains the heavy lifter, contributing 1.25 crore on Friday with a healthy 20 percent occupancy across 1,327 shows. The Hindi version added another 0.20 crore to the kitty from 815 shows. Even in its third week, the film is finding enough oxygen in the Hindi markets to keep the numbers ticking, though the Marathi heartland continues to be the driving force. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the performance in national multiplex chains, the film recorded approximately 5,350 tickets sold on Friday. Across the big three—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—it generated a gross of roughly 13 lakh. INOX led the segment with around 2,400 tickets, followed by PVR with 2,000 tickets and Cinepolis adding another 900. These numbers indicate a steady flow of urban audiences who are still catching up with the epic on the big screen. Digital engagement remains explosive as well, with BookMyShow recording 50.78K tickets for the day, pushing the lifetime total on the platform to a massive 21,30,390 tickets. Regional occupancy remains strongest in Maharashtra's core centers. In Mumbai, the Marathi version saw an overall occupancy of 18.5 percent across 333 shows, with night shows peaking at 25 percent. Pune performed even better, recording a 22.5 percent occupancy across 254 shows, with night screenings hitting the 30 percent mark. In the Hindi circuits, the film saw 9.8 percent occupancy in Ahmedabad and around 7.3 percent in both Surat and the National Capital Region (NCR). With its current total of 78.40 crore net, Raja Shivaji has already cemented its place in history by surpassing the lifetime collections of blockbusters like Ved and Baipan Bhari Deva. It now sits firmly in the second position of all-time Marathi grossers. The only target left to conquer is the legendary Sairat, which holds the top spot with a lifetime collection of 110 crore. With a steady trend and a lack of major competition in the regional market, the focus remains on whether this epic can bridge the gap and eventually claim the top spot as the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 16 - The makers of the upcoming comedy entertainer Golmaal 5 have reportedly addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding Akshay Kumar and his reported remuneration for the film. Over the last few days, multiple reports claimed that Akshay was being paid a massive 35-40 crore fee for a short shooting schedule in the upcoming comedy entertainer. However, the production house, Rohit Shetty Picturez, has now dismissed all such reports as baseless and purely speculative. In an official statement (via Bollywood Hungama), the spokesperson clarified that the commercial details of the film are confidential and that the numbers being circulated online are not true. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The clarification came after it was reported in the media that Akshay Kumar was charging more than Ajay Devgn for the film. According to those reports, Akshay was allegedly receiving 35-40 crore for around 18-22 days of shoot, while Ajay Devgn was said to be working on a profit-sharing model. Despite the rumours, the makers have requested fans to support the film and avoid believing unverified financial reports. The makers stated that the team is making the film with a lot of love and urged audiences to focus on the excitement surrounding the project rather than speculation about actor fees. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Rohit Shetty, the film marks the fifth instalment of the hugely popular Golmaal franchise. Apart from Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, the movie also stars Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Sharman Joshi, and Kunal Kemmu in prominent roles.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The sequel to the 2019 romantic comedy, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, has made a rather lukewarm entry at the box office. When the first film arrived five years ago, it hit the ground running with a solid 9.10 crore on its opening day. In contrast, this new installment has managed to collect less than half of its prequel's total, signaling a clear lack of momentum right from the start. It is a quiet beginning for a franchise that previously enjoyed a much stronger pull with the audience. On its first Friday, the film brought in a net of 4 crore across a very wide release of 6,822 shows. This translated into an India gross of 4.80 crore. While the massive show count provided plenty of oxygen for the film to perform, the actual moolah entering the kitty remains underwhelming. For a movie playing on over 6,800 screens, an opening of the 4 crore mark suggests that the content failed to generate the necessary early-day spark to fill those seats. The performance in the national multiplex chains reflects this struggle. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold approximately 19,400 tickets on its opening day, contributing roughly 61 lakh to the gross. PVR accounted for about 10,400 tickets sold across 1,234 shows, while INOX and Cinepolis combined added another 8,900 tickets. Despite being available at roughly 380 venues within these national chains, the overall occupancy hovered around a low 3 percent. The wide availability of shows simply did not match the actual demand at the ticket counters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the digital front, the film saw some activity as the day progressed. Approximately 1.69 lakh tickets were sold on BookMyShow for the opening day. The booking pace did see a slight peak during the evening hours, reaching between 35,000 to 39,000 tickets per hour. While this suggests that some urban viewers opted for late-night screenings, it was not enough to significantly move the needle or bridge the massive gap left by the 2019 original. Regional occupancy numbers across major circuits remained mostly in the single digits or low teens. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the film had 958 shows but could only manage a 9.8 percent occupancy. Mumbai was slightly better at 13.8 percent occupancy across 509 shows, while cities like Pune and Jaipur saw 14.5 percent and 13.3 percent respectively. Even in these metros, the morning and afternoon shows were extremely dull. With the initial Friday numbers coming in so low, the film now faces an uphill task to show any significant growth over the rest of the weekend.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - After years of experiments, mixed results, and films that failed to fully tap into his mass appeal, Suriya has finally returned in the form fans had desperately missed. Karuppu is not just another release in his filmography — it feels like the comeback of the vintage Suriya who once dominated the box office with powerful screen presence, intensity, and crowd-pulling charisma. For a long time, there has been a feeling among fans that Suriya was moving away from the zone where he looked most comfortable. While some of his recent films earned appreciation for performances and storytelling, the larger-than-life aura associated with the actor was missing. Karuppu changes that instantly. From the promotional material to the theatrical response on opening day, everything points towards the return of "mass Suriya". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film arrived with solid buzz despite facing release hurdles. Originally scheduled to release a day earlier, the shows were cancelled due to financial and distribution-related issues. Instead of hurting the film, the delay only increased curiosity and online conversation. Once the film finally hit theatres, the response turned explosive, especially on booking platforms where ticket sales surged rapidly. It grossed around 18 crore in India and close to 25 crore worldwide on its opening day, which is the second biggest opening for the actor. One of the biggest talking points has been the overwhelming reaction to Suriya's screen presence. Fans are celebrating his intense dialogue delivery, action sequences, body language, and vintage swagger that had been missing for some years, especially since the pandemic. The actor appears fully charged in a role that perfectly blends emotion with mass appeal, reminding audiences why he became one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars in the first place. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Director RJ Balaji appears to have delivered something unexpected with Karuppu. Instead of relying only on social messaging or comedy, the film embraces a full-fledged commercial format while still retaining emotional depth. Early audience reactions suggest this balance is working strongly among both family audiences and hardcore fans. Karuppu is heading towards a big success story, with the second day expected to be on par or bigger than the opening day, which is a rarity in Tamil cinema. The film also arrives at an important stage in Suriya's career. The actor has consistently experimented with scripts over the years, but theatrical success on a large scale had become increasingly elusive. With the current response, the film has the potential to become a major turning point and possibly his biggest commercial success in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What makes the response even more significant is the emotional connection audiences seem to have developed with the film. Many viewers are calling it "the Suriya comeback they were waiting for," while social media has been flooded with celebrations comparing his performance to his peak commercial era. If the momentum continues over the weekend, Karuppu could emerge as more than just a box office hit.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 16 - Superstar Ram Charan’s much-awaited sports action drama Peddi continues to show excellent momentum in overseas advance booking. The film has now sold 10,000 tickets for its North American premiere shows, nearly three weeks ahead of release. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the big-budget entertainer had already created a record by becoming the fastest Indian film to cross $100K in North America pre-sales, achieving the milestone within just four hours of bookings opening. According to the latest trade reports, the premiere pre-sales in North America have now surpassed the $300K mark, signalling strong buzz for the film among overseas audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's strong advance booking trend is being driven by Ram Charan's growing popularity after RRR, along with the strong response to the promotional material and songs. Trade circles are expecting Peddi to emerge as one of the biggest premiere grossers for a Telugu film in North America if the current pace continues over the coming days. Reports suggest Peddi is aiming for a massive release with hundreds of premiere shows planned across the USA and Canada. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead alongside Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu in key roles. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and IVY Entertainment, Peddi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on June 4, 2026.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - After a series of underperformances, Tamil superstar Suriya seems to have come back in the game with action drama Karuppu. The film has had its struggles to hit the big screens. It was supposed to be released on May 14, but the financial issues forced the makers to cancel the shows for the entire day, and it eventually hit the big screens on May 15. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's advance booking was disrupted due to the last-minute changes. Before the film was pushed to May 15, Karuppu had sold over 500K tickets in advance for May 14. This, as said, eventually became worthless once the film was pushed back by a day, as advance tickets sold for May 15 were around 75K. However, the delay in the release amplified the buzz as Karuppu was all in its glory on the release day. It sold 700K tickets on BookMyShow for both Tamil and Telugu versions on May 15 only, making it the fourth highest Tamil film, and highest ever for a Suriya starrer, in terms of ticket sales on BMS on the release day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu's hourly BMS ticket sales peaked at 46.2K, which is again a record for the Singham star. There is no denying that the cancellation of the original day 1 fueled the massive response on the BooMyShow, but the numbers are still huge for an actor who hasn't had a success in recent times. Meanwhile, superstar Rajinikanth's Jailer is the number one film in terms of BMS ticket sales on the release day with 1 million tickets. Thalapathy Vijay's Leo is the second in the list with 756K tickets sold, followed by Rajinikanth's Coolie with 715K tickets. With 700K tickets, Suriya is now officially in the league of Tamil cinema giants. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Tamil Films By Day 1 BookMyShow Ticket Sales S. No. Movie Lead Actor Day 1 BMS Ticket Sales (Tamil) 1 Jailer Rajinikanth 1M 2 Leo Vijay 756K 3 Coolie Rajinikanth 715K 4 Karuppu Suriya 700K 5 The GOAT Vijay 584K Data via Filmy View/X*

BY CHRISTA LINCY

There is something incredibly nostalgic about watching a pair return to the screen after a long gap, and in the case of Suriya and Trisha Krishnan, that gap has spanned over two decades. Their latest collaboration in Karuppu is not just another theatrical release; it is a celebration of a journey that began in the early 2000s. For many moviegoers, seeing these two together again is a reminder of why they were once considered the quintessential face of modern Tamil romance. From the quiet streets of Mounam Pesiyadhe to the gritty landscape of Karuppu, their dynamic has evolved from youthful chase to seasoned partnership. To understand the depth of this pairing, we have to go back to where it all began in 2002 with Mounam Pesiyadhe. This was a landmark film for several reasons—it was the debut of director Ameer and marked Trisha's first lead role. At the time, the film operated on a modest budget of approximately 1.5 crore, but it went on to collect nearly 9.2 crore worldwide, earning a Superhit verdict. The chemistry was built on the Opposites Attract template, with Suriya playing the cynical Goutham and Trisha as the bubbly Sandhya. It established the famous eye-contact chemistry where their silence often spoke louder than words, a trait that became their trademark. Here is a look at their historical collaborations and how their lifetime numbers compare to the massive start of their latest outing: Suriya & Trisha Box Office Journey: Comparing Past Hits With Karuppu's Record Opening Day MOVIE NAME APPROX. WW LIFETIME GROSS Mounam Pesiyadhe(2002) ₹ 9.20 Cr Aayutha Ezhuthu(2004) ₹ 11.00 Cr Aaru(2005) ₹ 12.50 Cr Karuppu(2026) ₹ 18.00 Cr India Gross (Day 1) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The duo then moved into what many call their Intellectual Phase with Mani Ratnam's Aayutha Ezhuthu in 2004. Here, Suriya's Michael Vasanth and Trisha's Geetha felt like equals. They were urban, modern, and their romance was rooted in mutual respect rather than typical tropes. While the hyperlink narrative was experimental for its time and faced some challenges in rural markets, it was a solid hit with an approximate worldwide gross of 11 crore against a 5 crore budget. To this day, the beach argument and the proposal scene remain some of the most realistic portrayals of young love in Tamil cinema. By 2005, they transitioned into the high-octane commercial space with Aaru. This was a classic Beauty and the Beast dynamic, where Trisha's character acted as the moral compass for Suriya's unrefined street thug. Aaru was a significant commercial success, grossing approximately 12 crore worldwide. It was particularly strong in Tamil Nadu, where it earned around 11 crore in that state alone. Interestingly, Suriya's character in Aaru was named Saravanan—which is the actor's real birth name—and Karuppu brings this full circle by using the same name for his character once again. Fast forward to 2026, and Karuppu presents us with the Modern and Gritty version of this pair. Moving away from traditional romance, they function as a formidable power couple. Suriya plays a vigilante caught in a moral gray area, while Trisha portrays a sharp professional who acts as his strategist. Unlike her recent special appearances or limited roles in other big-ticket films, her role in Karuppu is a full-fledged lead. Their partnership here mirrors the intense, grounded energy found in Suriya's recent successes like Jai Bhim, focusing on shared trauma and a common goal to take down a corrupt system. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Director RJ Balaji has clearly made this film with a fan-boy's heart, packing it with nostalgic Easter eggs. He intentionally recreated the famous watermelon scene from Ghajini to introduce that original style to Gen-Z audiences. There is also a courtroom callback that reminds viewers of Jai Bhim, but with the added intellectual spark reminiscent of Michael and Geetha from Aayutha Ezhuthu. Even the dialogue Daddy is home serves as a meta-reference to his iconic dual roles in the past. Balaji's use of tight close-up shots on their eyes during planning scenes is a direct tribute to the minimalism that defined their first film together. The success of the Suriya-Trisha dynamic lies in its maturity. Throughout their filmography, Trisha's characters have always been the catalyst for change in Suriya's world, forcing his characters to evolve and find a new path. Whether it was Goutham finding love, Michael finding a partner in his activism, or Aaru finding a reason to leave crime, the pattern remains. In Karuppu, that growth continues as they stand together as equals. For fans who have followed them for 20 years, seeing them reclaim their throne at the box office is as much about the nostalgia as it is about the excellent filmmaking.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya has finally found the theatrical footing he has been searching for over the last thirteen years. While his recent journey has included ambitious big-screen projects like Kanguva and critically acclaimed hits like Soorarai Pottru and Jai Bhim—which were unfortunately restricted to OTT releases due to the pandemic—the raw, mass-market success of the Singham era had remained elusive in cinema halls. Karuppu changes that narrative. Acting as a major theatrical comeback for the star, the film delivers the kind of high-octane energy that fans have been craving since his peak years in the early 2010s. It is a return to form that reminds the trade why Suriya remains one of the most bankable names in the South. The journey to the theaters was not without its share of drama. Initially scheduled for a May 14 release, eleventh-hour financial hurdles forced the producers to shift the opening by a day. While such a last-minute delay often hurts a film's momentum, for Karuppu, it seemed to only heighten the anticipation among the audience. When the movie finally hit screens on May 15, the response was immediate and strong. On its opening day, the film collected a net of 15.50 crore across 4,891 shows in India, resulting in a domestic gross of approximately 18 crore. This performance confirms that the last-minute scheduling shift did little to dampen the star's pulling power at the ticket windows. Total India Net Collection: ₹15.50 Cr Total India Gross Collection: ₹18.00 Cr Tamil Net Collection: ₹13.10 Cr Telugu Net Collection: ₹2.40 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The linguistic breakdown highlights the film's core strength in its home territory. The Tamil version led the charge with 13.10 crore net, operating at a very healthy 54 percent occupancy. The Telugu version added another 2.40 crore to the kitty, maintaining a 30 percent occupancy. State-wise, Tamil Nadu was the primary driver with an 11.25 crore gross. Interestingly, the film showed decent reach across other southern states, pulling in 3.00 crore in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions, 2.00 crore in Karnataka, and 1.50 crore in Kerala. The rest of India contributed a modest 0.18 crore, as the film currently remains a heavy hitter primarily in the South. Occupancy rates in major cities suggest that the movie is successfully drawing people into theaters for evening and night shows. In Chennai, the film opened with a massive 70.5 percent overall occupancy across 592 shows, with night shows peaking at a staggering 92 percent. Coimbatore was not far behind with 63.8 percent occupancy. In the Telugu market, Hyderabad saw 31.5 percent occupancy across 246 shows, while Vizag recorded a higher 36 percent. Bengaluru also stayed steady with 38.5 percent occupancy across 367 shows. These numbers indicate that the word-of-mouth among the mass audience is translating into high seat-fill rates. Looking at the broader 2024 box office charts, the first-day performance of Karuppu has managed to find a respectable place among the top performers in recent years. Despite the scheduling hurdles and the last-minute release shift, the film has successfully broken into the list of the biggest Kollywood openings seen from 2024 onwards. Here is how the top 10 rankings currently stand based on their India net collections. Top 10 Kollywood Openers (From 2024) - Day 1 Net MOVIE NAME INDIA NET COLLECTION Coolie ₹ 44.50 Cr The Greatest of All Time ₹ 39.15 Cr Good Bad Ugly ₹ 28.15 Cr Vettaiyan ₹ 27.75 Cr Vidaamuyarchi ₹ 25.50 Cr Amaran ₹ 17.45 Cr Retro ₹ 17.25 Cr Indian 2 ₹ 16.50 Cr Karuppu ₹ 15.50 Cr Kanguva ₹ 14.90 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the overall Day 1 performance is encouraging, a deeper look at the morning trends reveals some room for growth. On its opening morning, Karuppu recorded around 25 percent occupancy, which is a significant step down from the 75 percent morning occupancy seen by Suriya's previous film, Retro. However, this slower start is understandable when you consider the chaos surrounding the release. The lower morning turnout was largely a result of the immense confusion and last-minute updates regarding the shifting release date. Moving the film from Thursday to Friday at the eleventh hour left many casual moviegoers unsure of the actual schedule, which naturally impacted the initial rush. As reported, the film entered theatres on a very strong financial footing, thanks to its impressive pre-release business. Karuppu has already recovered over 110 crore through the sale of its satellite, digital, and theatrical rights even before the first show began. This significant recovery provides a substantial safety net for the producers and serves as a testament to the massive brand value Suriya continues to command in the trade, despite a few years of theatrical turbulence. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Watch audiences reception Thambi.@SaiAbhyankkar, do you even realize what you’ve done to #TamilNadu?.@RJ_Balaji’ climax of #Karuppu starring.@Suriya_offl has sent theatres into absolute madness fans screaming, dancing, and literally “saami aadifying” inside cinema halls! Mass hysteria at another level! pic.twitter.com/83dKEmXDtJ— Parthiban Shanmugam (@hollywoodcurry) May 15, 2026 However, given that this is a high-budget venture, the focus now shifts to how the movie performs over the long haul. While the pre-release deals have moved it closer to the safe zone, the film needs to deliver big and maintain sustained legs at the ticket windows to be a definitive victory after the stars recent setbacks.The combination of a steady domestic run and a strong contribution from the overseas market will be the deciding factors in making Karuppu a massive theatrical success. The performance across the national multiplex chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—highlights the strong interest the film has generated. On its opening Friday, these major chains recorded a combined sale of over 29,000 tickets, contributing roughly 48 lakh to the day's gross. PVR led the charge by selling approximately 21,100 tickets with an occupancy of nearly 25 percent, while INOX and Cinepolis together added another 8,000 tickets to the tally. This momentum was equally strong on digital platforms, with BookMyShow reporting a massive 7 lakh ticket sales for Day 1 alone. Now that the initial release hurdles are cleared and the film has secured a domestic gross of 18 crore, Karuppu has successfully set the stage for a very promising first weekend.