Sudha Kongara's period political action drama Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sreelala, has capitalized on a fortuitous lack of major competition, amassing a significant sum at the domestic box office in its opening weekend. The film, which released on Saturday, January 11, 2026, has benefitted immensely from the last-minute postponement of Thalapathy Vijay's much-anticipated Jana Nayagan.
Box Office Numbers Show Strong Start
According to data from Sacnilk, Parasakthi collected Rs 10.15 crore on its second day (Sunday, January 12). This followed a robust opening day collection of Rs 12.50 crore on Saturday. The total domestic box office collection for the first two days stands at an impressive Rs 22.65 crore.
While the Sunday figures indicate a slight dip from the opening day, industry analysts suggest the numbers could have been considerably lower had it faced direct competition from Vijay's film. The delay of Jana Nayagan, directed by H Vinoth, was caused by issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and a subsequent case in the Madras High Court.
Context and Comparisons for Sivakarthikeyan
Despite the strong two-day haul, this opening represents a mixed bag for Sivakarthikeyan's recent track record. Parasakthi marks the actor's lowest opening in two years. His last release, AR Murugadoss's Madhraasi, opened to higher numbers, though it eventually turned out to be a commercial failure.
The two-day collection of Parasakthi is less than half of what his 2024 period war drama Amaran, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, earned in its first two days (Rs 46.65 crore). The current film's opening is, however, significantly better than his 2024 sci-fi comedy Ayalaan, which managed only Rs 9.6 crore in its first two days.
Release Strategy and Market Dynamics
The release of Parasakthi was a strategic move timed for the lucrative Pongal festival season. Sivakarthikeyan had initially planned to avoid a clash with Vijay's swansong. He opted for an unconventional Saturday release, a day after Jana Nayagan's scheduled Friday debut, to allow optimal positioning for both films.
Ironically, Parasakthi faced its own CBFC challenges. The film received certification clearance only late on Friday, January 10, after the makers agreed to implement 25 cuts suggested by the board. This last-minute clearance ruled out a Friday release, costing the film an extra day in theatres despite Jana Nayagan's absence.
While free from major Tamil competition, the film still contended with the pan-India release of Prabhas's Telugu horror comedy The Raja Saab, which earned Rs 46.24 crore over Saturday and Sunday. However, its dubbed Tamil version collected a mere Rs 30 lakh, posing minimal threat.
With no clarity on when Jana Nayagan will hit screens, Parasakthi has a clear runway for at least another week to capitalize on the Pongal holiday audience and maximize its box office potential before any new major releases enter the fray.
