Dulquer Salmaan starrer Kaantha has had a challenging start at the box office. On Day 6, the period drama continued its downward trend, showing no signs of growth. After six days, the film is set to cross the Rs 20 crore mark in India. This is an underwhelming performance compared to expectations.
Kaantha Box Office Collection Day 6
The film’s opening was modest, earning just Rs 4.35 crore on Friday, well below what many had hoped for. Despite Dulquer’s star power, the movie struggled to draw large audiences, indicating a rocky start for the 2025 Tamil period mystery drama.
Saturday brought a small improvement, with collections rising to Rs 5 crore, a jump of nearly 15% from Friday. Sunday added Rs 4.5 crore, slightly down from Saturday. Monday saw a steep fall to Rs 1.8 crore, a 60% drop, while Tuesday showed a marginal recovery at Rs 1.85 crore. Early estimates suggest Wednesday contributed around Rs 1.6 crore. Overall, Kaantha has earned approximately Rs 19.10 crore in its first six days.
The film is expected to end its first week just above Rs 20 crore. Its modest run highlights the difficulty the period drama has faced in connecting with mainstream audiences. After a string of hits, this is Dulquer Salmaan’s first significant underperformer in recent times, marking a notable setback. The film is unlikely to recover its budget and is considered a flop.
Kaantha Box Office Collection Day 6
| Day | India Net Collection |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Fri) | Rs 4.35 cr |
| Day 2 (Sat) | Rs 5 cr |
| Day 3 (Sun) | Rs 4.5 cr |
| Day 4 (Mon) | Rs 1.8 cr |
| Day 5 (Tue) | Rs 1.85 cr |
| Day 6 (Wed) | Rs 1.60 cr (early estimates) |
| Total | Rs 19.10 cr nett |
About The Film
Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, Kaantha is set in the 1950s Madras film industry. The story revolves around the clash between veteran filmmaker Ayya (Samuthirakani) and his superstar protege, TK Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan). Their rivalry escalates into a murder investigation on a film set, blending psychological drama with a whodunit thriller.
The narrative unfolds in two halves. The first focuses on the Guru-Shishya conflict, as Mahadevan renames a stalled film project without Ayya’s approval, creating tension and mistrust. The second half turns darker when aspiring actress Kumari (Bhagyashri Borse) becomes caught in the turmoil. Inspector Devaraj (Rana Daggubati) leads the investigation, uncovering secrets, jealousy and hidden agendas among the cast and crew.
While critics praised the performances and ambitious premise, the film struggled to appeal to general audiences. The transition from ego-driven drama to a murder mystery slowed the pacing, and its meta-cinematic look at 1950s filmmaking made the story less relatable.
Kaantha also faced controversy over alleged parallels to the life of Tamil cinema legend MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. A legal complaint claimed the film depicted the star negatively, which the filmmakers denied. Nevertheless, the dispute and sensitive subject matter may have affected audience reception.
