Kuberaa, which released last week, is doing exceptionally well in Telugu states and has already crossed the ₹100 crore gross mark in just ten days. Despite the release of another multi-starrer like Kannappa, the film continues to pull good crowds to theatres. While it’s too early to predict the final numbers, it’s already safe to call it a clean hit.
However, the film’s performance in Tamil Nadu is surprisingly weak. According to Kollywood trade reports, Kuberaa has managed to collect less than ₹20 crore from Tamil Nadu so far, which is considered a flop for a star like Dhanush.
This has left buyers confused because Dhanush’s intense roles in films like Asuran, Karnan, and Vada Chennai have done exceptionally well in the past. But Kuberaa hasn’t been able to connect with the Tamil audience. Possible reasons include Nagarjuna getting equal screen space, a lack of typical heroism in Dhanush’s character, and director Sekhar Kammula’s storytelling style, which might feel unfamiliar to Tamil audiences.
There were hopes that the film might pick up slowly in Tamil, but that seems unlikely now. Still, the Telugu version’s strong run has made Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and the producers at Asian Cinemas quite happy, especially with the advantage of increased ticket rates in Andhra Pradesh during the opening week.
The real impact of competition from Kannappa will become clear by Monday. It’s not unusual for Telugu-made films to struggle in Tamil Nadu, but even with Dhanush in the lead, this result has surprised many. Maybe the Tamil audience will appreciate it more once it hits OTT.
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