Kaantha's Box Office Journey: Modest Numbers Amid Growing Controversy
The Tamil period thriller 'Kaantha' made its theatrical debut on November 14, 2025, navigating both audience anticipation and legal challenges. Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj and featuring an ensemble cast including Dulquer Salmaan, Samuthirakani, Bhagyashri Borse, and Rana Daggubati, the film presents itself as a fictional drama set against the backdrop of 1950s Madras.
Box Office Performance Analysis
The film opened with modest numbers on its first day, collecting approximately ₹4.35 crore across India. The regional breakdown showed ₹2.65 crore from Tamil markets and ₹1.70 crore from Telugu-speaking regions.
On the second day, Kaantha witnessed an 11.49% increase, earning around ₹4.85 crore. The Tamil version contributed ₹3.25 crore while Telugu collections slightly dipped to ₹1.60 crore. By 2:30 pm on the third day (Sunday), early estimates indicated approximately ₹0.97 crore, bringing the three-day cumulative total to around ₹10.17 crore.
However, occupancy figures revealed concerning patterns. For the Tamil 2D version on Sunday, morning shows recorded only 16.91% occupancy, with reportedly no patrons for afternoon, evening, or night shows. Regional disparities were evident:
- Chennai: 25% occupancy
- Bengaluru: Mere 6% occupancy
- Pondicherry: 33% occupancy
- Trichy: 21% occupancy
- Coimbatore: 15% occupancy
- Vellore: 17% occupancy
- Mumbai and NCR: Both at 19% occupancy
The Controversy Surrounding MKT Connections
Despite the filmmakers' insistence that Kaantha is entirely fictional, the film has sparked significant backlash over perceived connections to the life of legendary Tamil actor and musician M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT).
B. Thiagarajan, MKT's grandson, has filed a case in a Chennai court seeking a permanent injunction against the film's theatrical release, streaming, and distribution. He alleges that the movie defames his grandfather by portraying him as a man of "loose morals" who ended his life blind, impoverished, and disrespected.
In his petition, Thiagarajan argues this portrayal is "false, misleading, and damaging," asserting that Bhagavathar was never fully blind nor died in poverty, but lived with dignity until his passing in 1959. He further contends that filmmakers should have obtained permission from MKT's family given the obvious parallels.
Film Narrative and Production Details
Set in 1950s Madras, Kaantha explores the turbulent relationship between T. K. Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan), a rising film star, and his mentor Ayya (Samuthirakani), a director who initially guides but later clashes with his protégé.
Bhagyashri Borse portrays Kumari, Mahadevan's love interest, while Rana Daggubati plays Inspector Devaraj, alias "Phoenix," a character central to a mysterious crime that unfolds as egos and ambitions collide.
The film represents a joint production effort between Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati under their respective banners, Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media. Both actors have publicly denied that the film serves as a biographical portrait of MKT, maintaining their position that any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental.
The tepid weekend performance, particularly the weak Sunday turnout following a decent Saturday uptick, suggests either mixed word-of-mouth or audience unease surrounding the film's controversial undertones. As the legal battle continues and more audiences experience the film, Kaantha's ultimate commercial and critical fate remains uncertain.
