Atharvaa's latest romantic drama Idhayam Murali, co-starring Preity Mukhundhan and Kayadu Lohar, registered an impressive jump at the box office on its first Saturday, comfortably crossing the Rs 5 crore mark worldwide in just two days.
According to the latest trade figures, the film collected Rs 3.15 crore net in India on Day 2, a sharp 65.8 per cent increase from its opening day's Rs 1.90 crore. With this, the film's cumulative India net collection has reached Rs 5.05 crore, while its India gross stands at Rs 5.81 crore. The film is yet to begin its overseas run, keeping its worldwide gross at Rs 5.81 crore.
The film also witnessed a healthy rise in audience turnout. Occupancy increased from 30 per cent on Friday to 43 per cent on Saturday, with the number of shows going up from 1,283 to 1,375, indicating growing word of mouth and stronger footfalls over the weekend.
Tamil Nadu continues to be the film's biggest market, contributing Rs 4.95 crore of the overall India gross. Karnataka has emerged as the second-best performing territory with Rs 0.57 crore, while Kerala has contributed Rs 0.15 crore so far.
An excerpt from our CE review of the film read, "If Idhayam (1991) was all about showing the pathos of an anxious yearner who crumbles under the weight of his own unsaid love, Idhayam Murali is a rose-tinted fantasy, in which, all the world conspires to give a yearner as many chances as possible until he finally gets it."
Idhayam Murali also stars Natty, composer Thaman S, Niharika NM, Sudhakar of Parithabangal fame, Yashashree Rao, singer Jonita Gandhi, and Anju Kurian, among others. The film has music composed by Thaman, cinematography handled by Manoj Paramahamsa and CH Sai, and editing by Pradeep E Ragav.
With positive audience response and a substantial Saturday jump, all eyes are now on Sunday's collections to determine whether the romantic drama can post an even stronger first weekend total.
