Atharvaa's coming-of-age romantic drama 'Idhayam Murali' continues its theatrical run, though it faces a significant setback with the arrival of Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan'. On its fourteenth day of release (Day 14, Thursday), the film collected an estimated net total of approximately ₹0.34 crore in India, bringing its total India net collection to ₹19.91 crore.
With its India gross collection now at ₹23.49 crore and an overseas gross of ₹4.50 crore, the film's total worldwide gross collection stands at ₹27.99 crore.
Jana Nayagan Impact and Run Analysis
The film's Day 14 collection of ₹0.34 crore reflects a drop of 19% from its Day 13 earnings of ₹0.42 crore. The arrival of Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' has resulted in a significant loss of screens in Tamil Nadu, directly impacting the film's theatrical run. Despite these challenges, 'Idhayam Murali' has maintained a decent hold, demonstrating the positive word-of-mouth it has generated over its two-week run.
Directed and produced by Aakash Baskaran in his directorial debut, 'Idhayam Murali' 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.
Closing in on ₹20 Crore Mark
Produced on a reported budget of ₹25 crore, the film has now recovered approximately 79.6% of its budget through net collections in India. The film needs approximately ₹5.09 crore more to break even. While the target appears achievable on paper, the film faces an uphill battle due to the screen loss caused by 'Jana Nayagan'. Industry analysts predict that 'Idhayam Murali' will conclude its run at ₹22-24 crore net, thus heading towards a losing verdict.
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. The film's nostalgic feel and Thaman's background score have been particularly appreciated, contributing to its steady theatrical run during its first two weeks.