Aug 22, 2026 2:20pm IST
Box Office Report: ‘Irumudi’ Opens Strong, ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ Takes A Decent Start, ‘Khalifa’ Drops On Day 2
While there were no Hindi releases this weekend, two Malayalam films and a Telugu movie hit the screens during the Onam festival. Prithviraj Sukumaran’s “Khalifa” and Nivin Pauly’s “Bethlehem Kudumba Unit” are now competing in Kerala, while Ravi Teja’s “Irumudi” is targeting the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana markets.
‘Irumudi’: A Potential Box Office Comeback For Ravi Teja
After a string of unsuccessful films like “Ravanasura,” “Tiger Nageswara Rao,” “Eagle,” “Mr. Bachchan,” “Mass Jathara” and “Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi,” Ravi Teja could be looking at a box-office comeback with “Irumudi.” The film, directed by Shiva Nirvana, opened to a strong response and collected ₹14.80 crore on its first day, with an impressive average occupancy of 76.9%. The film has also benefited from positive word-of-mouth, something that was missing from Teja’s previous releases. “Irumudi” marks a change of pace for the actor, placing him in an emotional family drama with rural crime and spiritual elements, unlike his recent projects, which relied heavily on his mass image.
If the film holds steady over the weekend, it could emerge as a certified hit. It also features Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sai Kumar and Baby Nakshathra in prominent roles.
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‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ Opens With Decent Numbers
Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s “Bethlehem Kudumba Unit” registered a decent opening, raking in ₹4.75 crore on its first day with an average occupancy of 58%. With the film striking a chord with its target audience, it has a chance to witness an upward swing over the weekend and post a healthy total.
‘Khalifa’ Sees A Drop On Day 2
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s “Khalifa,” which released on Thursday, saw a dip at the box office on its second day due to the arrival of “Bethlehem Kudumba Unit.” It raked in ₹2.30 crore on Friday, taking its total collection to ₹7.65 crore. The action-thriller needs to collect at least ₹20 crore over the weekend to stay afloat, given its scale and budget.
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