The much-anticipated Tamil historical political drama Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sreeleela, has opened to a lukewarm response at the domestic box office. The film, directed by Sudha Kongara, managed to collect approximately ₹3.79 crore on its opening day, as per data from the industry tracking platform Sacnilk.
Day 1 Occupancy and Box Office Trends
The overall Tamil occupancy for Parasakthi on its first day stood at 53.92%. The film witnessed a slow beginning with morning shows recording an occupancy of only 45.71%. However, there was a noticeable pick-up in audience interest during the afternoon, where occupancy rose to 62.13%. The evening and night show trends are now being closely watched, as they will be pivotal in determining whether the film can build significant momentum over the crucial opening weekend.
Film's Premise and Star-Studded Cast
Produced by Dawn Pictures, Parasakthi is set in the 1960s Madras and delves into the socio-political churn of the anti-Hindi agitations in Tamil Nadu. The narrative attempts to weave personal stories into the fabric of a larger political movement, a genre that has seen varied commercial success in the past. Alongside leads Sivakarthikeyan and Sreeleela, the film features an ensemble cast including Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Rana Daggubati. Supporting roles are played by Kulappulli Leela, Prakash Belawadi, Dev Ramnath, Prithvi Rajan, and Guru Somasundaram.
Mixed Audience Reactions on Social Media
Initial audience feedback on social media platforms, particularly on X, has been largely tepid. Early viewers have expressed criticism primarily focused on the film's pacing and writing. While some acknowledged director Sudha Kongara's intent and the authentic period setting, many felt the execution fell short of expectations.
One viewer labeled the film as "unbearable", citing excessive build-up and an over-the-top presentation. Another gave it a rating of 1.5 out of 5, stating that while the first half was passable, the second half dragged considerably. A common sentiment among critics was that the emotional core of the language movement narrative lacked depth and failed to create a powerful impact.
However, not all reviews were negative. A contrasting opinion praised the film, calling it a "powerful, authentic well made film". This viewer highlighted the last 30 minutes as edge-of-the-seat and commended Sivakarthikeyan's performance and character arc from a nobody to a rebel leader, as well as his cat-and-mouse dynamic with antagonist Ravi Mohan.
Road Ahead for Parasakthi
With mixed word-of-mouth and a modest opening day collection, the fate of Parasakthi now hinges on its performance over the weekend. The film's ability to attract larger audiences on Saturday and Sunday will be critical in stabilizing its box office run and overcoming the slow start. The coming days will decisively reveal whether this political drama can connect with the masses and achieve commercial sustainability.
