22 October 2023, Mumbai: Thalapathy Vijay’s latest action-thriller, ‘Leo,’ has set the box office ablaze with a phenomenal start. In just two days of its India release, the movie crossed the incredible milestone of Rs 100 crore. On the third day, ‘Leo’ continued its impressive performance, raking in an additional Rs 40 crore. This pushed its total collection to a staggering Rs 140.05 crores. The film’s entry into the century club within days is a testament to its massive popularity and Vijay’s star power.
A Record-Setting Debut for Leo
On the first day of its release, ‘Leo’ made an impressive Rs 64 crore in India, surpassing previous records. Notably, it outperformed Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer,’ which had earned Rs 44.5 crore earlier in the year. While the second day witnessed a slight dip with collections of Rs 35 crore, it’s a remarkable feat considering the intensity of competition. The significant question on everyone’s minds is whether ‘Leo’ can surpass the worldwide collection of ‘Jailer,’ which exceeded Rs 600 crore.
Leo Cast and Multilingual Success
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, ‘Leo’ boasts an ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Sarja, Mysskin, Sandy, and Gautham Menon, among others. The film’s appeal goes beyond linguistic boundaries, releasing in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. Notably, ‘Leo’ holds the title of being the top-earning film for both Vijay and director Lokesh in the USA, becoming the seventh highest-grossing Kollywood movie of all time.
Vijay’s Leo’s Global Triumph
‘Leo’ has not only conquered the Indian box office but has also made its mark globally, with reported earnings of Rs 212 crore worldwide. The film’s performance is particularly exceptional in Tamil Nadu, Vijay’s home territory, with collections estimated at Rs 26 crore on the third day. ‘Leo’ also proved its mettle in other regions, contributing significantly with around Rs 7 crore from Kerala, Rs 5 crore from the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana regions, and Rs 5.50 crore from Karnataka.
Vikram 2 Stands as Blockbuster
‘Leo’ marks the second collaboration between Thalapathy Vijay and director Lokesh, following their previous hit ‘Master.’ It’s part of Lokesh’s cinematic universe of police procedurals, which includes films like Karthi’s ‘Kaithi’ and Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vikram.’ Excitingly, Lokesh’s upcoming project involves directing Rajinikanth, potentially bringing together three of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars in one exceptional venture. As ‘Leo’ continues its roaring success at the box office, audiences eagerly await to see if it can surpass the monumental milestone set by ‘Jailer.’ Thalapathy Vijay’s formidable presence and the film’s universal appeal have made it a resounding success and an undeniable box office juggernaut.
By Yashika Desai