Dulquer Salmaan’s new period drama Kaantha started its box office journey with strong buzz and a low weekend. The film has now hit its first big hurdle. The collections so far aren’t impressive and indicate that it’s having a tough journey at the box office.
Kaantha Box Office Collection Day 4
As reported by Sacnilk, Kaantha collected around Rs 1.65 crore on Monday (Day 4). This brings its four-day India net total to almost Rs 15.50 crore across all languages. The sharp drop has raised concerns about whether the film can maintain momentum through the week.
Kaantha opened well on Friday with Rs 4.35 crore, driven by Dulquer’s strong fan base in Tamil and Telugu markets. Saturday saw a lift to Rs 5 crores, which hinted at good word-of-mouth. On Sunday, the film surprisingly dropped and collected around Rs 4.50 crore. Films are supposed to grow on weekend holidays, but this unusual pattern showed signs of worrying.
Monday completely changed the mood. The film dropped to Rs 1.65 crore, marking a decline of roughly 63–70% from Sunday. Such drops are common, but this one feels heavier because Kaantha needed a steady Monday to build on its weekend momentum. The weekday trend will now decide if the film can stay afloat or lose steam quickly.
Kaantha Box Office Collection Day 4
| Day | India Net Collection |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Friday) | Rs 4.35 cr |
| Day 2 (Saturday) | Rs 5 cr |
| Day 3 (Sunday) | Rs 4.5 cr |
| Day 4 (Monday) | Rs 1.65 cr (early estimates) |
| Total | Rs 15.50 cr nett |
Comparison With Dulquer Salmaan’s Previous Films
The Monday crash becomes more noticeable when compared to Dulquer’s last hit Lucky Baskhar. That film collected close to Rs 8 crore on Day 4 and later crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide. In contrast, Kaantha’s four-day total of Rs 15.50 crore is far lower, making it one of Dulquer’s weaker starts in recent years.
Even Dulquer’s Malayalam releases in the past few years have shown stronger holds. Kurup and Sita Ramam enjoyed far steadier weekday traction, which helped them turn into major hits. Kaantha has not shown that level of stability yet.
Despite the weekend strength, the Monday fall suggests that the film’s survival depends on Tuesday and Wednesday. A stable hold can still help Kaantha recover, but the pressure is now high. The film also needs strong word-of-mouth outside its core markets to remain competitive.
With a budget of around Rs 35–40 crore, the film must show healthy weekday numbers and strong second-weekend growth to recover costs. At the moment, the trend raises questions about whether the film can reach that mark or eventually slip into the underperformer zone.
About the Film
Set in the 1950s, Kaantha follows the intense creative clash between senior filmmaker Ayya (Samuthirakani) and his former protégé turned superstar, TK Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan). When they reunite for a horror project, their egos collide, leading to a shocking murder on set. The film blends drama, mystery, and psychological tension. Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, it co-stars Bhagyashri Borse and Rana Daggubati.
