The much-anticipated Prithviraj Sukumaran starrer 'Vilayath Buddha' is experiencing a dramatic decline at the box office, raising concerns about its commercial viability despite an encouraging opening last Friday.
Steep Decline in Daily Collections
According to industry tracking sources, the film's financial performance has shown a worrying downward trajectory as the week progressed. The movie opened strong with Rs 1.7 crore collection on Day 1, followed by Rs 1 crore on Saturday. However, the numbers dipped further to approximately Rs 75 lakhs on Sunday, indicating early signs of trouble.
The most alarming development came on Monday, with early estimates pointing to a mere Rs 29 lakhs India net collection on Day 4. This represents a staggering 83% drop from its opening day figures. The total four-day collection now stands at approximately Rs 3.74 crore, casting doubts on the film's ability to recover its production costs.
Occupancy Rates Tell the Same Story
The poor box office performance is clearly reflected in the occupancy statistics for November 24, 2025. The overall Malayalam film occupancy stood at a dismal 9.23% on Monday, with morning shows recording only 7.84% attendance.
The afternoon and evening shows showed slightly better numbers at 9.74% and 7.59% respectively, while night performances saw a marginal improvement reaching 11.73%. These figures indicate that audience interest has significantly waned since the opening weekend.
What's Next for Vilayath Buddha?
Directed by Jayan Nambiar, 'Vilayath Buddha' features an ensemble cast including Shammi Thilakan, Priyamvada Krishnan, Rajashree, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Anu Mohan alongside Prithviraj in the lead role. The film is an adaptation of the renowned novel of the same name and carries an intense storyline that had generated considerable pre-release excitement.
Industry analysts suggest that the film now heavily depends on positive word-of-mouth publicity and the performance during the upcoming weekend to regain any lost momentum. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether 'Vilayath Buddha' can stage a recovery and achieve the status of a 'decent hit' or faces an early exit from theaters.
The sharp decline in weekday collections, particularly the massive drop on Monday, has surprised many trade observers given Prithviraj Sukumaran's star power and the substantial pre-release marketing campaign.
