Atharvaa's coming-of-age romantic drama 'Idhayam Murali' continues to hold its ground at the domestic box office as it enters the third week of its theatrical run. On its thirteenth day of release (Day 13, Wednesday), the film collected an estimated net total of approximately ₹0.75 crore in India, maintaining the same momentum as its Day 12 earnings. This consistent performance has brought the film's total India net collection to an impressive ₹20.89 crore.
With its India gross collection now at ₹24.02 crore and an overseas gross of ₹4.07 crore, the film's total worldwide gross collection has crossed the ₹28 crore milestone, reaching ₹28.09 crore.
A Remarkable Theatrical Run
Directed and produced by Aakash Baskaran in his directorial debut, 'Idhayam Murali' has defied expectations with its consistent performance in the face of stiff competition. The film's journey has been nothing short of impressive, starting with a solid opening weekend that saw collections of ₹1.42 crore on Day 1, ₹1.25 crore on Day 2, and ₹1.84 crore on Day 3. The film maintained its momentum through the first week, crossing the ₹14 crore mark, and has continued to hold well in its second and third weeks.
The film features an ensemble cast including Atharvaa in the titular role, alongside Kayadu Lohar, Preity Mukhundhan, and Fahadh Faasil in special appearances. The film also stars Natty Subramaniam, composer Thaman S (in his return to acting after over two decades), Niharika NM, Sudhakar from the Parithabangal YouTube channel, and Dravid Selvam. The technical team includes cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa, editor Pradeep E Ragav, and music composed by Thaman S.
Breaking Even Against All Odds
Produced on a reported modest budget of ₹25 crore, the film has now recovered approximately 83.5% of its budget through net collections in India. The film needs approximately ₹4.11 crore more to break even. While 'Idhayam Murali' faces an uphill battle to reach the break-even mark, its strong hold in the third week suggests that it could still achieve respectable numbers before completing its theatrical run.
The film's storyline, which revolves around a young man navigating the emotional highs and lows of unrequited love, has resonated with family audiences and youth, contributing to its steady theatrical run. While the film received mixed critical reviews, the actors' performances and Thaman's background score have been particularly appreciated. The film's success has also been attributed to its strong word-of-mouth publicity and the growing popularity of Atharvaa among Tamil audiences.