With the Ugadi-Ramzan festive period and an extended weekend, two Telugu films and one pan-Indian Malayalam film arrived in theaters amidst significant buzz. Additionally, a Bollywood biggie debuted on Sunday. Here’s a breakdown of how these films performed over the weekend.
Weekend box office winner: Mad Square
The biggest success of the weekend was undoubtedly “Mad Square,” the sequel to the 2023 comedy hit “Mad.” The film exceeded expectations with impressive box office numbers.
In the USA, “Mad Square” grossed $1 million in its first weekend, while its worldwide total reached approximately Rs 45 crore. Considering its modest budget, this is a huge achievement.
The film, featuring an ensemble cast including Narne Nithiin, Ram Nithin, Sangeeth Shobhan, and Vishnu Oi, has already turned profitable. Directed by Kalyan Shankar, “Mad Square” has proven that entertaining content and youthful energy can drive box office success.
Disappointment for Robinhood
“Robinhood,” starring Nithin and directed by Venky Kudumula, struggled to make an impact at the box office, resulting in a major disappointment. Despite Nithiin’s aggressive promotional efforts and faith in director Venky Kudumula—who previously delivered hits like Chalo and Bheeshma—the film failed to draw audiences.
Poor word-of-mouth and criticism of Venky Kudumula’s formulaic writing, coupled with uninspiring music by GV Prakash Kumar, contributed to the film’s lackluster performance. It remained weak throughout the weekend and failed to gain traction.
L2 Empuraan: A mixed outcome
Mohanlal’s “L2 Empuraan,” directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, was highly anticipated as the Malayalam industry’s first major pan-Indian film. It had a strong opening across India, but mixed reviews and negative word-of-mouth affected its performance in Telugu and other language markets.
However, the Malayalam version emerged as a massive success, particularly in Kerala and overseas markets. Despite controversies surrounding certain scenes, the film remained in the national spotlight. It became the fastest Malayalam film to gross Rs 125 crore worldwide in its opening weekend, making it a partial success.
Sikandar: A slow start
Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna’s “Sikandar” had an average opening in India on its first day (Sunday). Collections in Hyderabad were also modest. Since it has only completed one day in theaters, it’s too early to determine its overall box office fate.
Final Take
While “Mad Square” emerged as the clear winner of the weekend, Robinhood struggled to find an audience. “L2 Empuraan” saw a contrasting response across different markets, and “Sikandar” is still in its early days.
