The Christmas 2016 turned out to be a black Christmas for Malayalam film audience. Thanks to the dispute between the Film Producers Associations and Exhibitors association, none of the Malayalam Christmas releases hit the screens last week.
However, one film which got the maximum benefit from the delay in Malayalam Christmas releases was last Friday’s Bollywood release, Dangal. The Aamir Khan starrer, which had released in nearly 100 screens across the Kerala took the Kerala Box Office by storm by recording excellent collections throughout the opening weekend. On its opening day, Dangal emerged as the only Bollywood film to gross Rs. 20 lakh on a single day at the Cochin multiplexes. The sports-drama went on to become the second fastest film to mint Rs. 50 lakh at the Cochin multiplexes after the Thalaivar’s Kabali. The film is all set to cross the Rs, 2 crore mark in Kerala before the end of the first week, which is mind blowing for a non-Malayalam film.
Meanwhile, Mohanlal’s Pulimurugan continued its amazing hunt even after completing 80-theatrical days. Similar to Dangal, the Mohanlal blockbuster too got benefited from no-show of Christmas releases at the Kerala Box Office. The action-entertainer, which is still running to more than 75 centers in Kerala has so far collected Rs 83 crore at the Box Office. The total worldwide collection of the Lalettan starrer has already crossed Rs.150 crore to become the third highest South Indian film of 2016 after Rajinikanth’s Kabali and Ilayathalapathy Vijay’s Theri.
Also read: Dangal 5-day Box Office: No stopping for Aamir Khan film even at overseas market
The surprise Malayalam blockbuster of 2016, Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan crossed the Rs. 17 crore mark at the Kerala Box Office. The comedy-entertainer is still running to packed houses in limited screens across Kerala.
Also read: Loved by everyone, Aamir Khan’s Dangal upsets real life coach of Geeta and Babita Phogat
— Sree Prasad Nair
