The first quarter of 2024 has come to an end with Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire leading the Indian Box office.
While the south indian cinema industry witnessed a mixed bag of performances at the box office, with the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam sectors experiencing more flops than hits. Let us take a look at how small budget films emerged as blockbuster leaving their note on how audience prefer content over everything.
Hanuman – Telugu
The film ended its theatrical run with a net collection of Rs 201 crore in India, making it the second Indian film in 2024 to surpass the double-century milestone domestically, following Fighter. The film’s worldwide gross reached Rs 294.18 crore, with a gross earning of Rs 237.18 crore in India and an additional Rs 57 crore overseas. Despite having a relatively unknown lead actor, Teja Sajja, and being a small-scale production, Hanuman attracted significant attention nationwide.
Ayalaan – Tamil
This film starring Sivakarthikeyan, became a box office hit after six years of work by the actors and director. Released during Sankranthi, the film collected close to Rs 70 crore at the box office, marking the biggest hit in Sivakarthikeyan’s career. Audiences across the south were particularly impressed by the film’s VFX.
Premalu – Malayalam
A romantic comedy directed by Girish AD and made on a modest budget of Rs 9 crore, emerged as a remarkable success story at the box office. Released in February, the film earned over Rs 100 crore worldwide. Its relatable storyline revolving around love triangles resonated with audiences, contributing to its substantial earnings in theatres and anticipated online releases.
Manjummel Boys – Malayalam
This film based on a heartwarming true story set in Ernakulam, proved to be a commercial powerhouse. Against a production budget of Rs 20 crore, the film generated a net profit of Rs 102.18 crore in India alone. Even after five weeks since its release, the film continued to attract audiences, maintaining steady collections and preparing for dubbed releases in other languages, including Telugu and potentially Hindi.
Bramayugam – Malayalam
Featuring Mammootty, received positive reviews upon its release in mid-February. Despite its limited budget, the film achieved commendable collections, further establishing itself as one of the notable films of the year as it concludes its box office journey.
Aadujeevitham – The GoatLife
Another Malayalam film starring Prithviraj, achieved a remarkable opening day collection of nearly Rs 9 crore at the Indian box office upon its release on March 28. Directed by Blessy and based on the acclaimed novel by Benyamin, the survival drama captivated audiences with its compelling narrative and stellar performances, setting the stage for continued success in the coming months.