Sekhar Kammula’s much-anticipated Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika Mandanna, opened to glowing reviews and highly positive word-of-mouth across the Telugu states. Both audiences and critics hailed the film for its storytelling, performances, and technical finesse. After a decent opening, Kuberaa picked up pace rapidly, collecting a remarkable ₹100 crore gross in its first week, a performance that has pleasantly surprised the Telugu film industry.
However, while the Telugu version of Kuberaa raced ahead at the box office, its Tamil version told a different story altogether. Given Dhanush’s massive following in Tamil Nadu and the film’s rustic characterisation designed to appeal to Tamil sensibilities, trade circles initially expected the film to perform even better there than in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Surprisingly, that has not been the case.
Despite an encouraging start and positive discussions around the film, Kuberaa’s first-week gross in Tamil Nadu reportedly fell short of ₹20 crore, numbers comparable to some of Dhanush’s recent underperformers. The result has come as a shock to many, including the film’s director.
Speaking to the media, Sekhar Kammula expressed his surprise at the film’s muted Tamil Nadu reception. “Honestly, I believed Kuberaa would resonate more with Tamil audiences. We tailored many aspects keeping their sensibilities in mind, and with Dhanush leading the film, I expected them to connect strongly. But this result was unexpected,” Kammula admitted.
Back home, however, Kuberaa continues its strong run in Telugu states, not just commercially but as a film that has satisfied both audiences and trade after a dull phase for Telugu cinema. Interestingly, some discussions on social media point to a gap in the film’s Tamil Nadu promotional strategy — a lack of clarity on what exactly Kuberaa offers, and how it’s positioned as a ‘Telugu film’ may have influenced perceptions.
In the end, Kuberaa’s Tamil box office journey serves as a reminder that success across industries isn’t always guaranteed, no matter the cast or intent.
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