November 15, 2024: Kanguva, the highly anticipated big-budget fantasy epic starring Suriya, has opened with an Lackluster response at the Indian box office, collecting approximately Rs. 26 crore on its first day. While this marks a milestone for the actor — surpassing his previous career-best opening of Rs. 16.75 crore with Anjaan (2014) — it falls short of expectations for a film of this scale, especially given its massive budget and the star power involved.
Suriya’s Career-Best Opening Day, but Expectations Remain Unmet
Despite setting a new personal record for Suriya in India, Kanguva’s opening is being seen as a disappointment, especially in the context of a tentpole production with a massive promotional campaign. Industry experts had expected the film to cross Rs. 35 crore on Day 1, given its grand scale and the actor’s strong fan base, but the reality turned out to be far lower. The film’s performance was particularly hampered by lackluster advance bookings, which had a delayed start due to last-minute negotiations with exhibitors.
Tamil Nadu Leads, But No Blockbuster Numbers – Suriya’s Comeback Starts Strong, But Audience Reception Dips
The film earned Rs. 10 crore in Tamil Nadu on its opening day — a figure that could potentially rank as one of Suriya’s top first-day collections in the region, just behind his 2019 hit NGK. However, despite a strong initial push, it’s clear that the audience reception has not lived up to expectations. The film’s performance in Tamil Nadu was hindered by lukewarm audience reactions and mixed reviews, with many moviegoers expressing dissatisfaction with the film’s writing and pacing.
Telugu, Kerala, and Hindi Versions Struggle
Outside Tamil Nadu, the performance of Kanguva was modest. In Telugu-speaking states, the film managed to collect around Rs. 5.5 crore, which, while not disastrous, could have been much higher considering the pre-release buzz. Kerala, a market that often delivers strong opening-day collections for Tamil films, saw the film gross Rs. 3.75 crore — a respectable number, but falling short of the Rs. 5 crore mark that seemed possible based on the initial buzz and advanced sales.
In the Hindi version, Kanguva achieved a milestone by securing the highest-ever first-day collection for a Kollywood film in the last five years, but the overall figures remain modest and unlikely to drive significant momentum in the Hindi market.
Audience Reception: A Major Setback for Suriya
The film’s biggest concern isn’t just its underwhelming box office collections, but rather the mixed to negative audience reception. For a star like Suriya, whose last theatrical success was Singam 2 in 2013, Kanguva was supposed to mark his triumphant return after a five-year hiatus. Unfortunately, the film’s grand ambitions — to blend fantasy elements like wind, water, and fire with a time-spanning narrative — failed to deliver the emotional and narrative depth required for such a project. The audience’s lukewarm reaction to the film’s disjointed storytelling and over-the-top action could result in a steep drop in collections as the weekend progresses.
Kanguva: Ambitious but Overwhelmingly Flawed
Directed by Siva, Kanguva aimed to showcase a grand narrative, spanning two timelines separated by a millennium, with a focus on elemental powers. However, its execution was far from perfect. Despite the best efforts of cinematographer Vetri Palanisamy, who created some visually stunning sequences, and Suriya’s magnetic performance, the film felt more like a visual spectacle than a coherent, engaging story.
The Long Road Ahead for Kanguva
With the release of Kanguva now behind it, the question remains whether the film can find its footing in the coming days. The star power of Suriya and the film’s visual grandeur may still help it maintain steady collections, but the lack of a strong word-of-mouth could make it difficult for Kanguva to sustain long-term box office momentum.
As things stand, the film’s future at the box office looks uncertain, and it is increasingly likely that it will join the long list of recent big-budget films that failed to deliver at the box office. The next few days will be crucial for Kanguva to prove its worth and recover from its shaky start.