Kaantha is having an underwhelming run at the box office, and the numbers are dropping faster than expected. The Dulquer Salmaan starrer, which was expected to benefit from his strong fan base and recent hit streak, is struggling to hold its ground. His previous films delivered clean hits, making this steep fall even more surprising and concerning for fans and trade watchers.
According to early estimates from Sacnilk.com, Kaantha collected around Rs 1.75 crore on Tuesday (all languages). With this, the film has reached an estimated Rs 17.40 crore in five days. It is yet to touch the Rs 20 crore mark, which is usually a basic benchmark for a star-led Tamil release in its first week. The trend points to a worrying slowdown.
Kaantha Box Office Collection Day 5
The film opened below Rs 5 crore on Friday, earning Rs 4.35 crore across languages (with the Tamil version contributing Rs 2.65 crore and the Telugu version adding Rs 1.7 crore). Saturday brought a slight rise to Rs 5 crore, but the weekend momentum fizzled out quickly. Sunday dipped to Rs 4.5 crore, and Monday saw a sharp crash to Rs 1.8 crore. Day 5 continued the fall, with the Rs 1.75 crore estimate reflecting low audience interest.
What makes the performance more striking is its comparison with other recent releases. The film has earned significantly less than the recent Tamil release Dude, which made over Rs 50.3 crore in just five days. This means Kaantha has earned 65% less, showing a wide gap despite Dulquer’s strong presence in the Tamil and Telugu markets. At this pace, the film is unlikely to recover its budget from theatrical business and may end up as a box-office flop.
Kaantha Box Office Collection Day 5
| 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 1.8 cr |
| Day 5 (Tuesday) | Rs 1.75 cr (early estimates) |
| Total | Rs 17.40 cr nett |
About This Dulquer Salmaan Starrer
Kaantha is a Tamil-language period mystery drama starring and co-produced by Dulquer Salmaan. Not to be confused with the Malayalam film Kaathal – The Core, this film is set in the vibrant and competitive world of 1950s Madras. It explores the complex relationship between a rising superstar and the mentor who shaped his early life.
The story follows TK Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan), a superstar with a rags-to-riches story, who shares a bitter rivalry with his former mentor, Ayya (Samuthirakani). Despite their strained relationship, the two are forced to collaborate on a film. However, things take a dark turn when a murder occurs on set. Inspector Devaraj (Rana Daggubati) steps in to investigate, pulling the characters into a gripping web of ego clashes, moral dilemmas and buried secrets. The narrative blends cinema, crime, power and the blurred lines between performance and reality.
Before its release, Kaantha faced a legal dispute. The grandson of legendary actor and singer MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar filed a petition claiming that the film portrayed his grandfather in a “false and degrading” manner. The makers (including Dulquer and director Selvamani Selvaraj) maintained that the story was entirely fictional.
