Dulquer Salmaan’s ambitious period drama opens across 2,000 screens but manages a modest start despite strong anticipation.
Published: November 15, 2025 6:42 PM IST
Dulquer Salmaan’s latest period drama Kaantha arrived in theatres with significant curiosity and a massive rollout, yet the film’s opening day numbers signal a comparatively muted start. Released across more than 2,000 screens in Tamil and Telugu, the film was expected to ride strong pre-buzz and Dulquer’s pan-India following. However, early estimates from Sacnilk suggest that Kaantha clocked close to Rs 4 crore on Day 1, marking a softer opening for a film mounted at this scale.
While the film has generated conversation for its production values and Dulquer’s performance, the first-day footfall paints a mixed picture across regions.
How did the film perform in Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Nadu, where Dulquer enjoys a sizable fan base and where the film was positioned as a major regional release, reported an overall Day 1 occupancy of 21.68%.
A closer look at the show pattern shows fluctuating interest:
Chennai, which hosted 373 screenings, recorded an impressive 29.5% occupancy, showing stronger city support despite the film’s uneven state-wide turnout.
What about Bengaluru and the Telugu version?
Bengaluru, despite being a major South market for Dulquer, witnessed one of the weakest responses with only 9.5% occupancy across 205 shows.
The Telugu version also saw a subdued start with 19.46% occupancy, which is considered soft given Dulquer’s rising popularity among Telugu audiences after Sita Ramam.
How does Kaantha compare with Dulquer’s recent films?
Kaantha’s opening feels modest when placed alongside Dulquer’s recent outings:
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Lucky Baskhar (2024): Rs 6.45 crore
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King of Kotha: Rs 6.85 crore
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Sita Ramam: Rs 3.05 crore
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Hey Sinamika: Rs 1 crore
Interestingly, while Kaantha fails to match the highs of Lucky Baskhar or King of Kotha, it performs better than the first-day numbers of Sita Ramam and Hey Sinamika.
Where does Kaantha stand among 2025 Tamil releases?
Among Tamil titles released this year, Kaantha edges past:
However, the film falls far behind the year’s biggest Tamil openers:
It does manage to surpass Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, produced by Dulquer himself, which opened at Rs 3.15 crore.
Can word of mouth improve the film’s run?
Though Kaantha has begun on a modest note, the real test will be its weekend hold. A shift in momentum, stronger night occupancy, and positive audience reactions may determine whether the film stabilises over the next few days.
- Kaantha collects close to Rs 4 crore on Day 1 across India.
- Tamil Nadu shows mixed turnout, but Chennai performs relatively strongly.
- Opening figures fall short of Dulquer’s recent big releases but surpass some of his earlier titles.
