Weekend BO: ‘Little Hearts’ emerges as a hit
Last weekend witnessed a crowded box office in Telugu states and the USA. Two Telugu films and one dubbed Tamil movie competed for audience attention. Alongside these, a Hollywood film and two Bollywood releases also hit the screens, targeting urban audiences in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In addition, a dubbed Malayalam film continued its steady run. Despite intense competition at ticket windows, three films stood out with notable collections – The Conjuring: Last Rites, Little Hearts, and Madhraasi.
Little Hearts becomes a super Hit
In the Telugu market, Little Hearts, starring social media sensation Mouli Tanuj and Shivani Nagaram, emerged as a super hit. The film’s silly jokes and light-hearted entertainment connected well with audiences seeking pure fun without heavy drama or message. Marketed as a teenage love story, the film deliberately avoided a strong narrative or cinematic depth. Instead, it was structured as a series of entertaining reels. Despite its simplicity, Little Hearts grossed over Rs 7 crore in the Telugu states. The producers recovered the film’s entire budget on the very first day, confirming its commercial success.
Ghaati fails to make an impact
Anushka Shetty’s Ghaati turned out to be a disappointment at the box office. Surprisingly, even Anushka’s immense stardom could not bring respectable opening numbers. Anushka is one of the biggest female stars in Indian cinema, but the film failed to attract her usual audience. The timing also worked against the film as many people were occupied with Ganesh Nimajjanam festivities. Moreover, the presence of multiple entertaining options for youngsters further diluted interest. As a result, Ghaati struggled badly from day one.
Hollywood and Star power dominate
Hollywood’s “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” the fourth installment in the acclaimed franchise, became the top grosser across India last weekend. Sivakarthikeyan’s Madhraasi also made waves by collecting over Rs 55 crore worldwide in its first weekend. This further established Sivakarthikeyan’s growing stardom. On the other hand, Tiger Shroff’s “Baaghi 4” collected modestly while Kalyani Priyadarshan’s “Lokah” continued to perform steadily in its second week.
Meanwhile, the political drama “The Bengal Files” is struggling at the box office. The director’s earlier hit The Kashmir Files became a massive blockbuster, but “The Bengal Files” failed to replicate that success and did not attract the expected audience.
| Movie | Collection in Rs |
|---|---|
| The Conjuring: Last Rites | 51 Cr |
| Madhraasi | 37 Cr |
| Baaghi 4 | 32 Cr |
| Lokah | 28 Cr weekend (82 Cr cumulative) |
| Little Hearts | 7.50 Cr |
| The Bengal Files | 6.70 Cr |
| Ghaati | 2.25 Cr |