Nivin Pauly's 'Baby Girl' Faces Slow Box Office Start Despite High Expectations
Malayalam superstar Nivin Pauly has returned to the big screen with his latest thriller 'Baby Girl', but the film's opening day performance has left industry observers surprised. Following the success of his previous film 'Sarvam Maya', many had anticipated a strong box office debut for the new release. However, early estimates reveal a more modest beginning than expected.
Day 1 Collections Paint a Concerning Picture
According to data compiled from the Sacnilk website, 'Baby Girl' collected approximately Rs 75 lakh across India on its first day. This figure represents the total collection for the opening day and remains unchanged in early estimates. For a film starring an established star like Nivin Pauly, this number appears significantly lower than typical expectations for a major Malayalam release.
The occupancy numbers provide further insight into the film's performance trajectory throughout the day. 'Baby Girl' recorded an overall Malayalam occupancy of 21.47% on Day 1, with clear patterns emerging across different show timings:
- Morning shows: 19.70% occupancy
- Afternoon shows: 14.44% occupancy (the lowest point)
- Evening shows: 18.90% occupancy
- Night shows: 32.84% occupancy (the strongest performance)
These numbers clearly indicate that the film gained momentum as the day progressed, with night shows attracting substantially more viewers than earlier screenings.
Social Media Reactions Remain Divided
Twitter has become a battleground of opinions regarding 'Baby Girl', with reactions ranging from enthusiastic praise to sharp criticism. The social media platform reveals a genuinely mixed response rather than a consensus view.
One enthusiastic viewer wrote: "INTENSE - EMOTIONAL - DRAMA The Bobby-Sanjay brand of brilliance is all over #BabyGirl. No lag. No gimmicks. Just pure, hard-hitting storytelling. Superb performance from #NivinPauly, Sangeeth and Liji Mol."
In stark contrast, a critical review stated: "Watched #BabyGirlVery gud 1st half followed by a very Bad 2nd half & poor climax. Straight to the subject. Engaging narration till the interval. Old school making. Nivin Pauly useless. Sangeeth comedy piece. After interval writing gets weak with neither thrills nor tensions.2/5."
A more balanced perspective emerged from another user: "#BabyGirl - 3.25 stars. Neat film. Functional thriller with no groundbreaking twists but what works in its favour is its racy screenplay and the breakneck narration. Dives right into the story from the first minute. Doesn’t waste a single second. At just 2 hr 7 mins, it does a good job in keeping you invested. Single day story with a strong emotional core."
What the Future Holds for 'Baby Girl'
With such divided word-of-mouth circulating among audiences, the coming weekend will prove crucial for the film's box office prospects. If positive reviews gain more traction and spread through social networks, collections could potentially improve during the Saturday and Sunday shows. The strong night show performance on Day 1 suggests that evening screenings might continue to draw better crowds.
For now, 'Baby Girl' has undoubtedly started its theatrical journey on a slower note than anticipated, but the complete story of its box office performance remains unwritten. The film's fate will largely depend on how audience sentiment evolves over the next few days and whether positive buzz can overcome initial skepticism.
Disclaimer: The box office numbers and data mentioned in this article are compiled from various public and industry sources. All figures are approximate and subject to change as official studio data becomes available or additional market reports are finalized. This information is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only.
