The much-anticipated multi-lingual film 'Vrusshabha', starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, is facing a severe setback at the box office. The film, which released five days ago, has failed to pick up speed, with its fifth-day collections in the Malayalam language version hitting a worrying low of just Rs 9 lakh. Industry observers and fans who expected a strong performance driven by Mohanlal's star power have been left disappointed as the numbers show no sign of a significant jump since its release.
Detailed Box Office Breakdown: A Disappointing Trend
According to data compiled from industry sources and the Sacnilk website, the overall performance of 'Vrusshabha' paints a bleak picture. The total worldwide collection for the film is approximately Rs 1.94 crore. Within India, the net collection is around Rs 1.45 crore, while the gross figure is about Rs 1.69 crore. The overseas market has contributed roughly Rs 25 lakh to the total kitty so far.
A closer look at the language-wise performance reveals the depth of the struggle. In its primary language, Malayalam, the total net collection stands at around Rs 1.01 crore. The day-wise trend shows a declining pattern: Day 3 brought in about Rs 15 lakh, Day 4 dropped to Rs 10 lakh, and Day 5 further slipped to Rs 9 lakh. The performance in other languages is even more concerning. The Hindi version has netted a paltry Rs 8 lakh in total, with Day 5 contributing only Rs 1 lakh. The Telugu adaptation has fared slightly better with a total of around Rs 32 lakh, including Rs 6 lakh on the fifth day. The Kannada version remains weak, with a cumulative collection of just about Rs 4 lakh.
The Cast, Crew, and Mohanlal's Special Connection
'Vrusshabha' is led by Mohanlal and features a supporting cast including Ragini Dwivedi, Neha Saxena, Ramachandra Raju, Mohammad Ajum Ali, and Nayan Sarika. The film is directed by Kannada filmmaker Nanda Kishore, with cinematography handled by Antony Samson and music composed by Sam C.S. Conceived as a multi-language project, it was released simultaneously in Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada.
In earlier interviews, Mohanlal had expressed why this project felt unique to him. He highlighted the unconventional collaboration, stating it was special because of its "strange combination." "A Kannada director is directing a Malayalam-Telugu film with North Indian producers and Malayalam actors. That itself is a strange coincidence," he told Mathrubhumi. The actor also recalled his initial reaction to the story narration, saying he felt there was something different in it and that the narrative had a strong emotional pull right from the beginning.
Analysis and Industry Implications
The underwhelming box office performance of 'Vrusshabha' raises questions about the appeal of multi-lingual films that lack a strong, cohesive narrative hook for pan-Indian audiences. Despite the involvement of a major star like Mohanlal and an interesting collaborative model, the film has not managed to connect with viewers across its target regions. The absence of a strong post-release jump, often seen with films that gain positive word-of-mouth, indicates that the audience response has been tepid. This result serves as a reminder that star power alone cannot guarantee success, and the content must resonate broadly to justify the multi-language release strategy. The industry will now be watching closely to see if the film finds any stability in the coming days or continues its downward trend.
