The box office run of Nandamuri Balakrishna's much-anticipated action film, 'Akhanda 2: Thaandavam', has hit a significant slowdown. After a strong hold for over two weeks, the film's daily earnings have begun to fall steadily, indicating a decline in audience footfall as it enters its third week.
Sharp Decline in Daily Collections
According to industry trackers, the film's performance on weekdays has been particularly weak. On its 19th day in theaters, 'Akhanda 2' managed to collect only approximately Rs 31 lakhs in net collections across India. This figure marks a visible drop from its weekend numbers and continues a downward trend from the previous days. The film had collected Rs 90 lakhs on day 17, which sharply fell to Rs 35 lakhs on day 18 before reaching the day 19 low.
Despite the recent slump, the cumulative collection remains substantial. The total India net box office collection for 'Akhanda 2: Thaandavam' now stands at around Rs 91.96 crores. The film is inching closer to the coveted Rs 100 crore mark domestically, but the current pace suggests the journey has become tougher.
Low Occupancy Rates Reflect Waning Interest
The dip in collections is directly reflected in the theater occupancy data for Telugu shows. On its last reported day, the film registered an overall Telugu occupancy of just 14.34%. The breakdown across show timings was not encouraging either: morning shows saw 12.69% occupancy, afternoon shows were at 14.16%, evening shows dipped to 12.61%, and night shows performed slightly better at 17.91%.
These numbers are typically insufficient to drive strong weekday collections, confirming that the initial rush has subsided. The film's performance is now dependent on whether it can stabilize at these lower levels or if the decline will continue.
Mixed Audience Word-of-Mouth Impacts Longevity
Directed by Boyapati Srinu, 'Akhanda 2: Thaandavam' features an ensemble cast including Balakrishna Nandamuri, Samyuktha Menon, Aadhi Pinisetty, Harshaali Malhotra, Kabir Duhan Singh, and Saswata Chatterjee. However, the film has received mixed to negative reactions from a section of the audience on social media platforms, which is likely affecting its long-term prospects.
Critical viewer comments have been harsh. One social media review criticized the film, stating it was "so bad it’s painful", labeling it as boring, excessively loud, violently over-the-top, and "proudly brainless." Another disappointed viewer simply called it a "waste of time," suggesting it could ruin one's evening. Such strong negative word-of-mouth often curtails a film's ability to attract new audiences beyond the core fanbase in its subsequent weeks.
While the film achieved a robust opening and held well initially, the combined effect of natural post-holiday slowdown, weak weekday demand, and divisive audience talk has clearly impacted its momentum. All eyes will now be on whether 'Akhanda 2' can sustain enough to cross the Rs 100 crore net milestone in India in the coming days.
