The highly anticipated Mani Ratnam film, Ponniyin Selvan 2, has received a strong start at the box office in India. Starring Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, and Trisha, the movie has reportedly grossed between Rs. 28 to 29 crores on its opening day, making it one of the biggest openers in Tamil Film Industry. However, the opening figures are lower than its predecessor, Ponniyin Selvan 1, which had opened at Rs. 39 crores in September 2022. The reason for this lower start is attributed to the slow-paced period drama genre and relatively lower hype surrounding the film.
Tamil Nadu has contributed the most to the film’s box office collection with a total of Rs. 17 crores, while the rest of India has added up to a gross collection of Rs. 11 to 12 crores. Despite the slower start, the film is expected to receive strong support from Tamil Nadu’s families and achieve a significant total in the long run. The initial reports from the ground are positive, and the film is aiming for a finish of Rs. 150 crores or more in Tamil Nadu. However, the success of Ponniyin Selvan 1 has set high expectations, making the numbers for Part 2 seem relatively smaller.
The Hindi version of the film has collected Rs. 2 crores nett, and it is expected to show growth over the weekend. However, the core audience of Ponniyin Selvan 2 is expected to remain in the home market as the film contains strong cultural references, which may not be easily understood by non-Tamil audiences. Despite this, the overall reception of the film outside of Tamil Nadu may not be as good as its core market, impacting the box office numbers.
While Ponniyin Selvan 2 has received a good start at the box office in India, the opening numbers have been relatively lower compared to its predecessor. However, the film is expected to gain strong support in Tamil Nadu and achieve a significant total in the long run. The Hindi version may not be able to replicate the success of the original due to strong cultural references, but the film is still anticipated to perform well in its home market.