The Atharvaa-starrer 'Idhayam Murali' continues its steady march at the box office, registering a rare mid-week growth on its sixth day. The coming-of-age romantic drama, which released on July 10, earned an estimated Rs 1.25 crore net in India on Wednesday, marking a 1.6% increase from its Day 5 collection of Rs 1.23 crore.
This growth is particularly noteworthy as most films typically witness a decline on weekdays. The film's total India net collection has now reached Rs 13.18 crore, while its India gross collection stands at Rs 15.16 crore. The overseas markets have contributed a steady Rs 4 crore gross, pushing the worldwide gross collection to an impressive Rs 19.16 crore.
Directed by Aakash Baskaran in his debut, the film features Atharvaa in the titular role alongside Preity Mukhundhan, Kayadu Lohar, and a special appearance by Fahadh Faasil. The ensemble cast also includes Thaman S, who doubles as the film's music composer, along with Natty Subramaniam, Rakshan, Sudhakar, Niharika NM, and Jonita Gandhi. The technical crew includes cinematographers Manoj Paramahamsa and CH Sai, with editing by Pradeep E Ragav.
The film was screened in 1,432 shows across the country on Day 6, registering an overall Tamil occupancy of 18.28%. The evening and night shows witnessed the highest footfall at 18.23% and 19.77% respectively, indicating strong audience interest after regular work hours. Morning shows recorded 14.15% occupancy, while afternoon shows saw 17.77%.
Tamil Nadu continues to dominate the film's performance, contributing Rs 1.32 crore gross on Day 6. Karnataka added Rs 7 lakhs, while Kerala contributed Rs 5 lakhs to the day's total India gross of Rs 1.44 crore. The film's total India gross across all states has reached Rs 15.16 crore.
The film's box office journey began with a strong opening of Rs 1.90 crore on its first Friday. It witnessed remarkable weekend growth, collecting Rs 3.50 crore on Saturday and Rs 3.80 crore on Sunday. As expected, collections dipped to Rs 1.50 crore on Monday and eased further to Rs 1.23 crore on Tuesday before the slight recovery on Wednesday.
The coming-of-age love story follows Idhaya (Atharvaa), a shy young man who reflects on his unspoken romances across three stages of life while on his way to his wedding. The film explores themes of unrequited love, friendship, and the emotional paralysis of overthinking, with Fahadh Faasil's pivotal role as a stranger who becomes the listener to Idhaya's journey. The film's nostalgic portrayal of 90s and 2000s childhood has struck a chord with audiences, with Thaman's background score receiving particular praise.
As 'Idhayam Murali' enters its second weekend, the film will look to capitalize on its positive word-of-mouth and the slight mid-week growth. With the upcoming release of major films, the Atharvaa-starrer will aim to maintain its momentum and cross the coveted Rs 20 crore milestone worldwide. The film's stable performance, especially in Tamil Nadu, suggests a promising run ahead for this heartfelt romantic drama.