BY CHRISTA LINCY

Sivakarthikeyan's journey from a television anchor to one of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated stars is a testament to his talent, resilience, and deep connection with audiences. Hailing from Singampunari, Tamil Nadu, and initially trained as an engineer with an MBA, he burst onto the scene by winning Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? in 2006 and later gained popularity as a television host on Star Vijay. ## Siva's big-screen debut came with a supporting role in 3 (2012), but it was Marina (2012) that introduced him as a lead. From there, he delivered a string of successful comedies like Ethir Neechal, Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam, and Maan Karate, each building his fanbase. Maan Karate notably became his first ₹50 crore grosser, establishing his commercial pull. He continued his success with Rajini Murugan, Remo, and Velaikkaran, films that cemented his status as a dependable box office draw.## Titles like Namma Veettu Pillai (₹63 crore) and Maaveeran (₹78.4 crore) maintained his momentum, but Doctor (2021) was the game-changer—it became his first film to cross ₹100 crore globally. Don (2022) followed with ₹114 crore, solidifying his place among Tamil cinema’s elite. In 2024, he delivered his career’s biggest hit with Amaran, a patriotic war biopic that grossed over ₹212 crore in just 10 days and eventually surpassed ₹300 crore, placing him in the top echelons of Indian cinema. ## Box Office Performance of SK's FilmsMovie TitleYearBox Office(₹ crore)Marina 20125.47Manam Kothi Paravai20125Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga 201310.85Ethir Neechal 201323Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam 201330(First week in TamilNaduMaan Karate 201427Kaaki Sattai 201529Rajini Murugan 201657.45Remo 201675.85Velaikkaran 201786SeemaRaja 201863.85Mr.Local 201925Namma veetu Pillai 201963Hero 201949Doctor 2021100.5Don 2022114Maaveeran 202378.4Ayalaan 202476.5Amaran 2024333.67## Sivakarthikeyan is known for his clean, family-friendly entertainment. He has also explored singing, lyric writing, and production, debuting as a producer with Kanaa (2018). Without any film industry background, he has emerged as a self-made star, whose inspiring career arc—from mimicry and stand-up to headlining ₹300 crore blockbusters—continues to motivate aspiring talents across the industry. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Los Angeles, September 3 - Power Star Pawan Kalyan's highly-awaited gangster action thriller They Call Him OG is creating havoc at the North American box office even before its theatrical debut. There are still 3 weeks to go before the release of the film, and it has already achieved a remarkable milestone in the North American market. Directed by Sujeeth, OG has crossed $1 million pre-sales gross collection for the North America premiere, which is on September 24, and what makes this feat even more special is that it has become the fastest Telugu film to breach the $1 million mark, according to the official update by the makers. This underscores the massive anticipation surrounding the film. With still three weeks to go before release, trade experts are confident that the film will scale much bigger numbers in the coming days, setting the stage for one of the biggest premiere days for an Indian title in North America. The unprecedented craze can be attributed to Pawan Kalyan's unmatched fan following overseas, coupled with the film’s high-octane teasers and aggressive promotional campaign. The movie is being released by Prathyangira Cinemas in North America, and it has sold over 32,000 tickets as the distributors are witnessing strong demand across multiple locations, ensuring packed houses for premiere shows. OG is touted as a stylish gangster action drama with a global backdrop. The film is backed by DVV Entertainment, the banner behind RRR, further adding weight to its box office expectations. With pre-sales momentum this strong, the industry and trade are buzzing with confidence that OG could be a big blockbuster in NA. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 3 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who is shooting for director Priyadarshan's crime thriller Haiwaan in Kerala, has lauded Kalyani Priyadarshan and the team of Malayalam blockbuster Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra for the stupendous box office success, while sending the best wishes for the film's Hindi release. Taking to the social media platform X, Akshay heaps high praise for the acting chops of Kalyani as he wrote, "Talent runs in the family... suna thaa, ab dekh liya! Hearing lovely things about the brilliant acting chops of @kalyanipriyan, Priyadarshan Sir's daughter. My best wishes to her and the entire team of #Lokah on their Hindi version release. More power." Talent runs in the family…suna thaa, ab dekh liya! Hearing lovely things about the brilliant acting chops of @kalyanipriyan, Priyadarshan Sir’s daughter. My best wishes to her and the entire team of #Lokah on their Hindi version release. More power 🙌— Jolly Mishra - Asli Jolly from Kanpur (@akshaykumar) September 3, 2025 Meanwhile, Dominic Arun's directorial superhero blockbuster has stormed past the 100 crores box office worldwide in just 7 days, becoming the first female-led South Indian film to achieve the milestone. It is also among the fastest Malayalam films to hit 100 crores globally. In Hindi, it will be released on September 4. Kalyani, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan, has steadily built her reputation in South Indian cinema, but Lokah marks a true turning point in her career. Her powerful portrayal of Chandra has not only resonated with audiences but also proven that female-led films can achieve blockbuster status on par with mainstream star-driven projects. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 3 - Debutante Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda's Saiyaara has almost concluded its theatrical run, emerging as one of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema at the worldwide box office. Backed by strong word of mouth, chartbuster music, and wide appeal among youth, the film has not only performed exceptionally in India but has also left a remarkable mark overseas. Directed by Mohit Suri and backed by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara has been a box office phenomenon, no one show coming. The romantic drama has left everyone, including the trade, stunned by emerging as one of the best-performing Indian films in recent times, for the kind of scale and star power it has. Made on a budget of around 60 crores, Saiyaara is one of the most profitable Indian films of the modern era, with the overall profit in the range of 225+ crores, including around 170 crores of theatrical profit. The film's non-theatrical revenue is reportedly in the range of 60 crores, including 45 crores for post-theatrical streaming rights. In India, Saiyaara collected an excellent 329+ crore net, which translates to around 398.50 crore gross. The film maintained an extraordinary hold across multiplexes and single screens alike, ensuring long legs at the ticket counters. As per estimates, it sold 1.85 crores tickets in India, which underlines its strong audience reach and repeat value, making it one of the most-watched romantic films in recent times. Saiyaara is arguably the biggest Indian Overseas blockbuster in recent times. With completely unknown faces, the film performed like a top star film in the international markets, which contributed significantly, grossing 171.50 crore, thanks to its strong reception in North America, the Middle East, and Australia. This propelled the film's final worldwide gross to 570 crore, a phenomenal achievement for a romantic entertainer led by newcomers. Here Is The Final Worldwide Box Office Breakdown of Saiyaara India Net Box Office Collection₹ 329.25 Cr India Gross Box Office Collection₹ 398.50 Cr Overseas Box Office Collection₹ 171.50 Cr Worldwide Box Office Collection₹ 570.00 Cr India Footfalls/Admits1.85 Cr approx. Box Office VerdictSuper Blockbuster Saiyaara Box Office Records - With its heartfelt storytelling, soulful music, and refreshing lead pair, Saiyaara has not only struck a chord with audiences but has also delivered historic box office records. The film's unprecedented success is a testament to strong content and smart marketing, and it has now paved the way for newcomers to thrive on the big screen. - Highest opening for debutant-led Indian film: 21.50 crore net - Highest opening for an Indian romantic film, beating Kabir Singh (20.21 crore net) - Highest worldwide opening for debutant-led Hindi film: 29.75 crore gross - Highest worldwide opening for a romantic Indian film, beating Kabir Singh (26.50 crores gross) - Highest opening weekend for a debutant-led Indian film: 83.25 crore net - Highest opening weekend for a romantic Indian film, beating Kabir Singh (70.83 crore net) - Highest worldwide opening weekend for a debutant-led film: 117.25 crore gross - Highest worldwide opening weekend for a romantic Indian film, beating Kabir Singh (93.60 crore gross) - Highest opening week for a debutant-led Indian film: 172.75 crore net - Highest opening week for a romantic Indian film, beating Kabir Singh (134.42 crore net) - Highest worldwide opening week for a debutante-led Indian film: 250.25 crore gross - Highest worldwide opening week for a romantic Indian film, beating Kabir Singh (176.50 crore gross) - First 100, 200, 300 crore net-grosser for a lead debut actor - Highest-grossing Indian film for a lead debut actor - First 300 crore net-grosser Indian romantic film, beating Kabir Singh (278.80 crore net) - Highest-grossing Indian romantic film at the domestic box office - Highest-grossing Indian romantic film at the worldwide box office, beating Kabir Singh (377 crore gross) - First Indian romantic film to gross 400 crore worldwide - Biggest Bollywood grosser of 2025 at the overseas box office, beating Chhaava (93 crore) - Highest-grossing Indian romantic film at the overseas box office - Second Indian film of the year to gross 500 crore worldwide Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, September 3 - Maverick director SS Rajamouli's action adventure film with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and desi girl Priyanka Chopra, is creating frenzy among the fans over the last few days after the much-awaited update about the first look teaser was announced along with international shoot plans. It is known to all that SS Rajamouli has chosen Kenya as the primary shooting destination, where nearly 95% of the African scenes of SSMB29 are being shot. As the shoot is progressing at a brisk pace, SS Rajamouli, along with producer KL Narayana, met with Musalia W Mudavadi, who is the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. On Tuesday (September 2), Minister Mudavadi shared a social media post, welcoming the team of SSMB29 and also revealed some details regarding the ambitious release plans of the film, which has reportedly been titled Gen63 and is set against the backdrop of the divine ancient city of Kashi. Kenya this past fortnight became the stage for one of the world’s greatest filmmakers, @ssrajamouli, the visionary Indian director, screenwriter, and storyteller whose works have captured the imagination of audiences across continents. Rajamouli, with a career spanning over two… pic.twitter.com/T1xCGVXQ64— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) September 2, 2025 It has been revealed that Gen63 will be released in over 120 countries globally, marking it the widest release ever for an Indian title. The minister also said in his post that the film is looking to reach over a billion people worldwide, which would be something out of the world if the makers pulled this off. Apart from the ambitious release plans, Minister Mudavadi also revealed that Gen63 is a 2-part epic saga, and now, that is something which is creating confusion. Time and again, there have been rumours about the plans to release the film in multiple parts, but the reliable Telugu media portals have confirmed that it will be a single-part film, not a franchise. The confusion persists, especially after the revelation by a foreign minister, as the makers haven't made any official statement yet regarding the same. Irrespective of how many parts of Gen63 will be there, the film is expected to take Indian cinema to new heights in terms of scale, budget, and box office performance. Touted as the globetrotter, it is said to be the biggest Asian project with a budget of over 1000 crores. The first look teaser of the movie will be released in November this year, and the plans are to release the movie in the first half of 2027 in multiple languages worldwide. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, September 3 - The much-awaited Bijuria song from Dharma Productions' upcoming romantic comedy Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has been released, and as expected, it is a perfect recreation of the iconic 1999 song by Sonu Nigam. Sung by Sonu Nigam and Asees Kaur, the recreation of the song instantly made an impression. In the video song, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor are seen in a party mood where Varun is trying to impress Janhvi, who is looking super hot in a golden saree, as the duo sets the stage on fire. Apart from Varun and Janhvi, the song also features Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf, who play the second lead in the movie. The peppy number is a perfect ode to Sonu Nigam's old song. The new version is reimagined by Tanishk Bagchi, who has also written the additional lyrics in the original song written by Sonu Nigam. Talking about the film, SSKTK is directed by Shashak Khaitaan and produced by Dharma Productions and Mentor Disciple Entertainment. It is scheduled to release on October 2nd worldwide. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 3 - Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films' animated epic Mahavatar Narsimha continues to hold its ground even after more than a month in theatres. The Ashwin Kumar's directorial has once again showcased remarkable staying power at the box office, inching closer to a massive milestone. On its 40th day, the mega blockbuster grossed 0.80-1 crore across all languages at the domestic box office. This strong performance at such a late stage in its run is a testament to the extraordinary word-of-mouth and family audience support the film has enjoyed. With this, Mahavatar Narsimha's domestic total now stands at around 292 crore gross, bringing it within striking distance of the coveted 300 crore mark. Considering its steady trend and consistent turnout, the film is well on track to achieve this milestone in the coming days, unless the new releases completely outplay it. The film already cemented its place as one of the biggest blockbusters in the genre and continues to expand its audience base with repeat viewings, particularly during weekends and festive days. Its unique blend of Indian rootness, grand visuals, and devotional storytelling has made it a cultural phenomenon at the box office. As the film enters its 7th week, all eyes are now on whether Mahavatar Narsimha can cross the 300 crore gross milestone domestically, further strengthening its legacy as a landmark success in Indian animation cinema, or it falls short of this magical milestone. Irrespective of what happens, it is already the box office blockbuster of the year. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 16 - The countdown has begun for superstar Akshay Kumar's courtroom comedy drama Jolly LLB 3, co-starring Arshad Warsi, which releases on September 19. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, it is among the most anticipated films, as the makers are gearing up for the trailer launch in the next few days. Ahead of the film's trailer launch, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared the film for the unintercepted release with some minor changes. According to the reports, Jolly LLB 3 has received a U/A (16+) certificate with an approved theatrical runtime of 2 hours and 37 minutes (157 minutes). The reported runtime of the third instalment of the blockbuster franchise makes it the longest film in the franchise, beating Jolly LLB 2 (137 minutes) and Jolly LLB (128 minutes). This is the perfect runtime for a comedy-drama, which is expected to be a fun-filled laughter riot with a social message. While the exact plot details have not been revealed yet, it is reported that Jolly LLB 3 is a laugh-out-loud courtroom comedy, with the biggest face-off between the well-known and beloved Jolly Mishra and Jolly Tyagi as the central theme of the film. The trailer of the movie will be launched on September 10 in Kanpur and Meerut. Produced by Star Studio18 and Kangra Talkies, the movie also stars Saurabh Shukla, Annu Kapoor, Amrita Rao, Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla, and Annu Kapoor, all reprising their roles from the previous two films with Akshay and Arshad. It marks the film comeback of Amrita Rao after six years. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, September 2 - Kalyani Priyadarshan's superhero film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra scripts a major win for the female-led films as it has created history by becoming the highest-grossing South Indian film of all time. The film, which was released to decent anticipation, has stormed the box office by collecting over 80 crores gross worldwide in just 5 days. It has become the highest-grossing female-led film in South Indian cinema history on its 6th day, by beating Keerthi Suresh's Mahanati (84+ crores) as the worldwide total is expected to be over 90 crores at the end of the day. For years, female-centric films in South cinema have been celebrated for their critical acclaim and path-breaking storytelling, but only a few managed to set benchmarks commercially. Until now, Mahanati (84.5 crores), Rudhrama Devi (82 crores), Arundhati (68.5 crores), and Bhagamathie (64 crores) held the top spots in this category. With Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra racing past these films in less than a week, the film has rewritten box office history. The top 5 biggest South Indian female-led grossers are dominated by the lady superstar Anushka Shetty, with three films, which were released in the era of male dominance. Those films (Rudhrama Devi, Arundhati, Bhagamathie) will be miles ahead of Lokah if adjusted with inflation, but with non-inflation, the Malayalam blockbuster has claimed the title. Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Big Moment Kalyani, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan, has steadily built her reputation in South Indian cinema, but Lokah marks a true turning point in her career. Her powerful portrayal of Chandra has not only resonated with audiences but also proven that female-led films can achieve blockbuster status on par with mainstream star-driven projects. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Here is the English movie The Conjuring: Last Rites (IMAX) box office collection, which is a horror thriller film. This film is directed by Michael Chaves and produced by The Safran Company, Atomic Monster Productions, and New Line Cinema, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. ## The Conjuring: Last Rites stars Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, and Patrick Wilson in key roles. ## The Conjuring: Last Rites (IMAX) Review - Coming Soon!## The Conjuring: Last Rites Box Office Collection Day Wise | All Language [See Footfalls] DayIndia Net Collection Change(+/-) Day 1 [1st Friday] ₹ 17.5 Cr [En: 10 Cr ; Hi: 6.35 Cr; Ta: 0.75 Cr; Te: 0.4 Cr] - Day 2 [1st Saturday] ₹ 17.5 Cr [En: 10.25 Cr ; Hi: 6.2 Cr; Ta: 0.8 Cr; Te: 0.25 Cr] 0.00% Day 3 [1st Sunday] ₹ 15.5 Cr [En: 8.3 Cr ; Hi: 6.4 Cr; Ta: 0.6 Cr; Te: 0.2 Cr] -11.43% Day 4 [1st Monday] ₹ 5 Cr [En: 2.35 Cr ; Hi: 2.35 Cr; Ta: 0.2 Cr; Te: 0.1 Cr] -67.74% Day 5 [1st Tuesday] ₹ 5.5 Cr [En: 2.4 Cr ; Hi: 2.9 Cr; Ta: 0.13 Cr; Te: 0.07 Cr] 10.00% Day 6 [1st Wednesday] ₹ 3.25 Cr [En: 1.4 Cr ; Hi: 1.65 Cr; Ta: 0.13 Cr; Te: 0.07 Cr] -40.91% Day 7 [1st Thursday] ₹ 2.75 Cr [En: 1.2 Cr ; Hi: 1.35 Cr; Ta: 0.13 Cr; Te: 0.07 Cr] -15.38% Week 1 Collection ₹ 67 Cr [En: 35.9 Cr ; Hi: 27.2; Ta: 2.74; Te: 1.16] - Day 8 [2nd Friday] ₹ 2 Cr [En: 1.1 Cr ; Hi: 0.8 Cr; Ta: 0.07 Cr; Te: 0.03 Cr] -27.27% Day 9 [2nd Saturday] ₹ 3.3 Cr [En: 1.75 Cr ; Hi: 1.4 Cr; Ta: 0.13 Cr; Te: 0.02 Cr] 65.00% Day 10 [2nd Sunday] ₹ 3.4 Cr [En: 1.6 Cr ; Hi: 1.6 Cr; Ta: 0.18 Cr; Te: 0.02 Cr] 3.03% Day 11 [2nd Monday] ₹ 1 Cr [En: 0.45 Cr ; Hi: 0.5 Cr; Ta: 0.04 Cr; Te: 0.01 Cr] -70.59% Day 12 [2nd Tuesday] ₹ 1.33 Cr [En: 0.5 Cr ; Hi: 0.75 Cr; Ta: 0.07 Cr; Te: 0.01 Cr] 33.00% Day 13 [2nd Wednesday] ₹ 1.01 Cr [En: 0.4 Cr ; Hi: 0.55 Cr; Ta: 0.05 Cr; Te: 0.01 Cr] -24.06% Day 14 [2nd Thursday] ₹ 0.81 Cr [En: 0.35 Cr ; Hi: 0.4 Cr; Ta: 0.05 Cr; Te: 0.01 Cr] -19.80% Week 2 Collection ₹ 12.85 Cr [En: 6.15 Cr ; Hi: 6; Ta: 0.59; Te: 0.11] -80.82% Day 15 [3rd Friday] ₹ 0.37 Cr [En: 0.2 Cr ; Hi: 0.15 Cr; Ta: 0.02 Cr] -54.32% Day 16 [3rd Saturday] ₹ 0.7 Cr [En: 0.4 Cr ; Hi: 0.25 Cr; Ta: 0.05 Cr] 89.19% Day 17 [3rd Sunday] ₹ 0.68 Cr [En: 0.35 Cr ; Hi: 0.3 Cr; Ta: 0.03 Cr] -2.86% Day 18 [3rd Monday] ₹ 0.25 Cr [En: 0.1 Cr ; Hi: 0.14 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] -63.24% Day 19 [3rd Tuesday] ₹ 0.25 Cr [En: 0.1 Cr ; Hi: 0.14 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] 0.00% Day 20 [3rd Wednesday] ₹ 0.25 Cr [En: 0.1 Cr ; Hi: 0.13 Cr; Ta: 0.02 Cr] 0.00% Day 21 [3rd Thursday] ₹ 0.15 Cr [En: 0.07 Cr ; Hi: 0.07 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] -40.00% Week 3 Collection ₹ 2.65 Cr [En: 1.32 Cr ; Hi: 1.18; Ta: 0.15; Te: 0] -79.38% Day 22 [4th Friday] ₹ 0.09 Cr [En: 0.04 Cr ; Hi: 0.04 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] -40.00% Day 23 [4th Saturday] ₹ 0.15 Cr [En: 0.1 Cr ; Hi: 0.03 Cr; Ta: 0.02 Cr] 66.67% Day 24 [4th Sunday] ₹ 0.15 Cr [En: 0.09 Cr ; Hi: 0.04 Cr; Ta: 0.02 Cr] 0.00% Day 25 [4th Monday] ₹ 0.07 Cr [En: 0.02 Cr ; Hi: 0.04 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] -53.33% Day 26 [4th Tuesday] ₹ 0.09 Cr [En: 0.05 Cr ; Hi: 0.03 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] 28.57% Day 27 [4th Wednesday] ₹ 0.09 Cr [En: 0.06 Cr ; Hi: 0.02 Cr; Ta: 0.01 Cr] 0.00% Day 28 [4th Thursday] ₹ 0.03 Cr [En: 0.02 Cr ; Ta: 0.01 Cr] -66.67% Week 4 Collection ₹ 0.67 Cr [En: 0.38 Cr ; Hi: 0.2; Ta: 0.09; Te: 0] -74.72% Day 29 [5th Friday] ₹ 0.01 Cr [En: 0.01 Cr ] -66.67% Day 30 [5th Saturday] ₹ 0.01 Cr [En: 0.01 Cr ] 0.00% Day 31 [5th Sunday] ₹ 0.01 Cr [En: 0.01 Cr ] 0.00% Day 32 [5th Monday] ₹ 0.01 Cr [En: 0 Cr ; Ta: 0.01 Cr] 0.00% Day 33 [5th Tuesday] ₹ 0.02 Cr [En: 0.01 Cr ; Ta: 0.01 Cr] 100.00% Day 34 [5th Wednesday] ₹ 0.01 Cr [En: 0.01 Cr ] -50.00% Day 35 [5th Thursday] ₹ 0.01 Cr [En: 0 Cr ; Ta: 0.01 Cr] 0.00% Week 5 Collection ₹ 0.08 Cr [En: 0.05 Cr ; Hi: 0; Ta: 0.03; Te: 0] -88.06% Total ₹ 83.25 Cr [En: 43.8 Cr ; Hi: 34.58 Cr; Ta: 3.6 Cr; Te: 1.27 Cr] - ## Take Subscription To See Footfalls ## India Net Collection ₹ 83.25 Cr ## Worldwide Collection ₹ 4085 Cr ## Overseas Collection ₹ 2585 Cr ## India Gross Collection ₹ 101.5 Cr ## The Conjuring: Last Rites (IMAX) Budget: ₹ - Cr * Approx ## The Conjuring: Last Rites (IMAX) Verdict: Coming Soon ## The Conjuring: Last Rites (IMAX) Screen count ## India: - * expected ## Overseas: - * expected ## Worldwide total: - ## Release Date: 5th September 2025 ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood Box Office Collection, Stay tuned to us.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 2 - When War (2019) exploded at the box office with nearly 475 crore worldwide, it set the bar sky-high for its sequel. Expectations grew even bigger when Yash Raj Films announced the addition of Telugu superstar Jr. NTR alongside Hrithik Roshan, making War 2 one of the most anticipated films of Spy Universe. Everything was going well as the industry was in the joyce mood three weeks before in the anticipation of the film's box office juggernaut. And then came D-Day, and despite the hype, the film gave a little shock to the trade with the lower-than-expected opening. This little shock soon turned into an utter disappointment as the film could never recover from its underwhelming opening. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film is in its third week of box office run, and it can be said that it has fallen short of expectations, and fallen short by miles, as it is now set to finish as the lowest-grossing film in the franchise at the domestic box office in its original Hindi version. War 2's Box office Struggle After the underwhelming but still respectable opening weekend of 191+ crores gross, including 153 crores in Hindi, War 2 lost momentum completely at the domestic box office as it fell like a deck of cards without putting up any fight. After 19 days, the film has grossed only 280 crores, including 212 crores (176+ crores net) in Hindi in India. Domestically, War 2 will end below the lifetime collection of Salman Khan-fronted Ek Tha Tiger, which was the first film in the YRF Spy Universe. ETT was released more than a decade ago in 2012, and despite the much lower ticket prices and no franchise advantage, the movie grossed over 263 crores (198+ crores net) domestically in Hindi. With War 2 nearing its end, it will end up as the weakest domestic performer in the Spy Universe, a sharp contrast to the roaring success of its predecessor. Even in all versions (including Telugu and Tamil), War 2 has barely managed to cross Ek Tha Tiger domestically, while at the worldwide box office, it will end up as the second lowest grosser in the Spy Universe, only ahead of ETT, which grossed 320 crores worldwide. The Bigger Picture The YRF Spy Universe has been home to some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters, from Ek Tha Tiger to Pathaan. War 2 was expected to build on that momentum, but its struggle highlights the risks of relying too heavily on franchise value and star power without equally strong storytelling. War 2 is far from the box office monster fans hoped for. As it ends up as the lowest domestic grosser in the Spy Universe, the pressure now shifts to upcoming instalments like Alpha, Pathaan 2, to restore the franchise's dominance. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, September 2 - The Malayalam cinema has its own Marvellous beginning of the superhero franchise, Lokah. The first part of the series, Lokah Chapter 1 - Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, was released recently amid glowing reviews, which led the movie to do wonders at the box office. Directed by Dominic Arun, Chandra has set the box office on fire, and scored the third biggest opening weekend ever for Malayalam cinema with 66 crores gross collection worldwide. This is by far the biggest Mollywood opening for a female-led title, and also for the superhero genre, which, anyway, is largely unexplored. Chandra featured post-credit scenes, featuring Dulquer Salmaan, who is also the producer of the film, and Tovino Thomas, as both will lead the next chapters of the franchise. As the anticipation is now all-time high for what will be going to unfold in the Lokah universe, the details regarding its future have been revealed. During the recent interview, cinematographer Nimish Ravi reportedly revealed that Lokah will be a five-part epic saga, where each film will be bigger than the last one. He also revealed that the director has already locked the stories for all five movies, which means the next film in the franchise will start rolling soon. Going by Ravi's words, Lokah will have a Marvel-esque conclusion where the heroes of the Lokah universe are likely to fight the main villain of it. If people are wondering who could be the main villain, he revealed that right from the opening scene of Chandra, there is a hidden clue about the ultimate villain of the series. With the astonishing success of Chandra, it is needless to say that the sky will be the limit for the next film. Stay tuned...