Vilayath Buddha Faces Severe Box Office Decline
Despite generating significant pre-release excitement and high expectations, Prithviraj Sukumaran's action thriller Vilayath Buddha is experiencing a challenging period at the box office. The film's performance has taken a dramatic downturn during its first week, with collections showing a concerning pattern of decline that has raised questions about its theatrical longevity.
Alarming Drop in Daily Collections
According to data compiled from Sacnilk website, the film witnessed its weakest performance on day 6, with earnings plummeting drastically to just ₹18 lakh. This represents a significant drop from the previous days, where Monday and Tuesday had each brought in ₹35 lakhs. The current total collection now stands at approximately ₹4.33 crore, far below expectations for a film featuring a star of Prithviraj's caliber.
The occupancy rates tell an equally troubling story. On November 26, Malayalam theater occupancy for Vilayath Buddha remained limited to 9.98%, indicating declining audience interest across all show timings. Night shows barely managed to cross the 10% mark, reflecting widespread audience apathy toward the film.
Runtime Trimmed Following Audience Feedback
In response to mixed audience reactions and criticism regarding the film's pacing, the makers have taken swift action by reducing the movie's duration. Actor Shammy Thilakan, who has been receiving widespread appreciation for his portrayal of Bhaskaran Mash, confirmed this development while responding to a viewer on Facebook.
Thilakan explicitly stated that the editing decision was made based on public demand. Reports indicate the original runtime of 2 hours 56 minutes has been shortened to 2 hours 45 minutes, representing an 11-minute reduction aimed at addressing viewer concerns about the film's narrative flow.
Performance Praise Amid Pacing Criticism
While the film faces commercial challenges, the acting performances have emerged as its strongest aspect. Both Prithviraj Sukumaran and Shammy Thilakan have received particular acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Thilakan's performance has generated significant admiration among viewers, with many considering it one of the film's highlights.
However, the pacing of the story has become the primary point of criticism. The mixed reviews appear to have impacted word-of-mouth promotion, ultimately affecting box office performance. The mid-week collection drop suggests the film is struggling to maintain audience interest beyond the initial weekend.
The combination of strong individual performances but problematic pacing presents a complex scenario for the film's makers as they attempt to salvage its theatrical run through strategic edits and marketing adjustments.
