BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 5 - Thalapathy Vijay has delivered a historic and blockbuster political debut, completely reshaping the landscape of Tamil Nadu politics. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has emerged as the single-largest force in the 2026 Assembly elections, winning 108 seats and challenging decades of dominance by established parties. Adding to the impact, Vijay himself registered massive victories in both Perambur and Trichy East constituencies, cementing his position as a serious political leader from day one. His debut has widely been described as a blockbuster moment - an apt word for a superstar who has seamlessly transitioned from cinema to politics without any fuss. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This political triumph has now directly amplified the hype around his upcoming and last film Jana Nayagan, which is slated to release later this month. The timing couldn't be more perfect. The film's title, meaning People's Leader, now mirrors Vijay's current image in real life, turning the project into more than just a movie - it's becoming a cultural event. Trade circles believe that Vijay's sweeping electoral success has elevated Jana Nayagan into a symbolic extension of his political journey. Audiences are no longer just waiting for a film; they are anticipating a reflection of the leader he is emerging as. The overlap between his on-screen persona and real-world political rise has created unprecedented curiosity. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan was supposed to be released in January this year, but it was forced to be delayed due to censorship issues. Adding to the woes, the film was leaked online recently, leaving makers worried about its business. But with a historical electoral victory for Vijay, the delay might be a blessing in disguise for Jana Nayagan amid renewed enthusiasm among the fans. As said, Jana Nayagan is Thalapathy Vijay's last film, which he had already confirmed during the music launch event of the film. The actor turned politician has now committed to fully focus on politics. While his party fell short of an absolute majority, Vijay is expected to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with the support of other parties.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 5 - Akshay Kumar's horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla continues its impressive theatrical run, achieving a major milestone at the Indian box office. The film has now overtaken OMG 2 to become the actor's third-highest-grossing film in the post-pandemic era. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film has grossed approximately 228 crore worldwide in 18 days, allowing it to surpass OMG 2 and claim the third position in Akshay Kumar's post-pandemic box office chart. In India, Bhooth Bangla has minted approximately 171.30 crores gross (144.25 crore net), while overseas collection stands at an estimated 56.50 crores so far. This achievement underlines the film's steady performance not just in India, but also in overseas markets where it has found a consistent audience. Akshay Kumar's box office journey in the post-pandemic era has seen its share of ups and downs, but the superstar continues to deliver notable performances at the global box office, including Bhooth Bangla, which has emerged as a strong success story. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Akshay Kumar’s Top 5 Films Post-Pandemic (Worldwide) S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Sooryavanshi ₹ 293 Cr 2 Housefull 5 ₹ 288.65 Cr 3 Bhooth Bangla ₹ 228 Cr 4 OMG 2 ₹ 221.75 Cr 5 Jolly LLB 3 ₹ 171.65 Cr As of May 4, 2026. Leading the Akshay Kumar's post-pandemic list is director Rohit Shetty's cop drama Sooryavanshi, which remains Akshay Kumar's biggest post-pandemic grosser with 293 crore worldwide. Close behind is the comedy franchise film Housefull 5, followed by Bhooth Bangla, social comedy drama Oh My God 2, and courtroom comedy drama Jolly LLB 3 among the top 5 grossers. The success of Bhooth Bangla is particularly significant as it marks a strong comeback for Akshay Kumar in the commercial space. The horror-comedy genre, combined with his signature comic timing, has resonated well with audiences, helping the film maintain a solid run at the box office.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Patriot recorded a net collection of 1.70 crore on its first Monday in India. For a film featuring two major legends, this number is relatively low and suggests that the star power is not translating into a strong weekday hold. This takes the total India net collection to 23.35 crore, while the domestic gross stands at 27.09 crore after the first four days of release. The film operated with an average occupancy of 19 percent on Monday across a total of 1,781 shows. While this occupancy percentage might seem decent, the low daily collection reveals that the film is mostly playing in smaller centers or lower-priced screens. Across its entire run so far, the movie has been played across 9,020 shows, but the inability to cross the 2 crore mark on a Monday for a project of this scale is a point of concern. Ticket sales on BookMyShow also show a significant cooling period. The film sold 41.18K tickets on Monday, which is a sharp drop from its pre-sales and opening day figures. Since its release, the platform has recorded over 8.46 lakh tickets in total. The steady decline from a strong 250K on Friday to just 41K on Monday indicates that the initial curiosity has settled quite quickly. Here is the detailed breakdown of the ticket sales trend so far: Patriot Ticket Sales Breakdown (BookMyShow)PHASE/DAYTICKETS SOLDPre Sales333.18KFriday (Day 1)250.74KSaturday (Day 2)125.08KSunday (Day 3)95.92KMonday (Day 4)41.18KTOTAL846,100 (8.46 Lakh) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The performance in the national chains further highlights the struggle in urban markets. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the movie managed to sell roughly 6,490 tickets on Monday from 628 shows, resulting in a gross of around 14.25 lakh. PVR was the biggest contributor with nearly 3,930 tickets from 280 shows. INOX and Cinepolis followed with approximately 1,340 tickets from 159 shows and 1,220 tickets from 189 shows, respectively. With an average occupancy of just 5.41 percent in these national chains, the film is essentially playing to very few people in high-end multiplexes, which is a disappointing trend for a big-budget release. On the international front, the film is finding better support. It added 2 crore from overseas markets on Monday, taking its total international gross to 40.50 crore. According to data from Venky Box Office, the North America market has contributed a total of approximately 2.80 crore ($334K) so far, with Saturday alone bringing in around 1.20 crore ($144K). This international revenue has been crucial in pushing the worldwide gross collection to 67.59 crore. While the global numbers look more respectable, the film needs a much stronger performance in the domestic market if it wants to improve its final standing. Looking ahead, Patriot will need to maintain a steady run over the rest of the week. With a total India net of 23.35 crore, it is clear that the movie is facing stiff competition and is not quite reaching the heights expected from its legendary cast. The coming days will show if it can hold its current levels or if the collections will continue to slide as it faces more competition in the coming weeks.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 5 - In what could turn out to be one of Bollywood's most exciting reunions, Kareena Kapoor Khan is reportedly in advanced talks to star opposite Salman Khan in an upcoming superhero film directed by Raj & DK. The film, produced by Atul Agnihotri and Mythri Movie Makers, marks Salman Khan's first full-fledged entry into the superhero genre, making it a highly anticipated project. According to Variety India's report, Kareena has emerged as the frontrunner for the female lead, with discussions at an advanced stage. This project will reunite Salman and Kareena after more than a decade. The duo was last seen together in the blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and has previously shared screen space in films like Bodyguard, Main Aur Mrs Khanna, and Kyon Ki.... Their on-screen chemistry has always been a fan favourite, making this potential comeback even more exciting. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What We Know About The Film While the official announcement of the film is yet to be made, the yet-untitled project is being described as a high-concept superhero action entertainer, blending Raj & DK's signature storytelling style with Salman Khan's mass appeal. The project has already generated massive buzz, bringing together one of Bollywood's biggest stars with the creators of acclaimed shows like The Family Man. The film will present Salman Khan in a never-seen-before avatar as he steps into the role of an ageing superhero, who's drawn back into action by circumstances beyond his control, eventually leading him into a larger conflict. Interestingly, Kareena wasn't the initial choice for the role. Earlier, reports suggested that Samantha Ruth Prabhu was being considered, but Kareena has now taken the lead in the casting race. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Shoot Timeline Revealed As per the report, the film is expected to go on floors around October–November 2026, once Salman Khan wraps up his current commitments. The makers are reportedly eyeing a 2027 theatrical release, positioning it as a major tentpole project. A Salman–Kareena pairing has historically delivered both commercial success and strong audience recall. Bringing them together in a superhero film, combined with Raj & DK's fresh creative vision, could result in something truly unique for Hindi cinema.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The anticipation for Christopher Nolan's next project has reached a fever pitch with the release of the latest trailer for The Odyssey. Premiering on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the footage was personally introduced by Nolan himself, giving fans their most detailed look yet at this massive adaptation of the classic Greek epic. Set to hit theaters and IMAX on July 17, the film appears to be another ambitious entry in the director's legendary filmography. This new trailer shifts the focus toward the emotional core of the story. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, and we see glimpses of his long, grueling journey home to Ithaca. The stakes are deeply personal, as he fights to return to his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and their son Telemachus, portrayed by Tom Holland. While the original myth is famous for its grand scale and mythical encounters, Nolan seems to be grounding the narrative in the human struggle of a husband and father trying to save his family from the chaos of his absence. One of the biggest highlights of this footage is the first look at the antagonists and side characters. Robert Pattinson appears as the villainous suitor Antinous, who has effectively taken over Odysseus's household, while Charlize Theron is seen as the nymph Calypso. The casting choices suggest a high-stakes drama where the internal conflicts are just as intense as the physical journey. Seeing Pattinson and Theron in these specific roles adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to an already star-studded lineup. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) From a technical standpoint, the film carries all the hallmarks of a Nolan production. It was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, a detail that is prominently highlighted to emphasize the visual scale of the project. The collaboration between Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema continues to yield stunning, grand imagery, which is paired with a nerve-piercing score by Ludwig Göransson. The combination of these technical elements suggests that the film is designed to be a purely immersive experience that demands to be seen in the highest possible format. As we head toward the July 17 release, the buzz surrounding The Odyssey is expected to grow significantly. By blending a classic literary foundation with cutting-edge IMAX technology and a powerhouse cast, Nolan is positioning this as the definitive cinematic event of the summer. Whether it is the personal story of a man lost at sea or the grand scale of the ancient world, the trailer makes it clear that this project is intended for the largest screens available.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Kara has completed its first Monday at the box office, and the numbers reflect a typical weekday shift for a mid-range regional film. On its fifth day, the movie collected 1.80 crore net across India, which marks a 64 percent drop from Sunday's 5.00 crore haul. While a drop of this magnitude is expected on the first working day, the film has managed to keep its total India net collection at a respectable 25.15 crore within its first five days of release. Looking at the state-level performance, Tamil Nadu stands as the biggest contributor for the film with a 1.15 crore gross on Monday. This revenue was driven by the Tamil version, which maintained a 16 percent occupancy across a wide footprint of 2,119 shows. In the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market, the film grossed 0.72 crore. It is interesting to note that the Telugu version actually recorded a slightly higher occupancy of 17 percent, even though it operated with about half the number of screenings at ,107 shows. This indicates that while the show count is lower in the Telugu states, the demand per screening remains quite healthy. The film saw smaller contributions from other regions, with Karnataka adding 0.15 crore to the daily gross. Kerala and the rest of India regions provided more modest numbers, contributing 0.03 crore and 0.01 crore respectively. These figures show that the film's momentum is primarily concentrated in its core Southern markets. With a total India gross of 2.06 crore for the day, the data suggests that Kara is finding its most loyal audience in Tamil Nadu and the Telugu states, where the consistent occupancy levels are helping it sustain its theatrical run during the work week. In the national multiplex chains, Kara continues to find a place among the top-performing titles. On Monday, the film sold 9,445 tickets across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, generating a gross of 11.75 lakh. PVR led the way with 5,300 tickets sold, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed 3,500 and 645 tickets respectively. Although it is currently behind the massive numbers of Raja Shivaji, the film's ability to sell nearly 10,000 tickets in these premium chains on a Monday shows that it still has a firm grip on the urban audience. Additionally, the film has reached a significant milestone on BookMyShow, crossing over 5 lakh total tickets sold since its release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Internationally, Kara is slowly approaching the 10 crore gross milestone. On Monday, it added 0.50 crore from overseas markets, bringing the total international gross to 9.65 crore. In the North America market, the film has grossed 105K dollars so far, with 37K dollars coming from Saturday alone, as per the data shared by Venky Box Office. This international contribution pushes the total worldwide gross collection to 38.70 crore. The daily overseas trend has been on a downward curve since the weekend peak, as seen in the breakdown below: Day 1: ₹2.50 Cr Day 2: ₹2.40 Cr Day 3: ₹2.75 Cr Day 4: ₹1.50 Cr Day 5: ₹0.50 Cr Looking at the overall picture, Kara has shown decent resilience. With a total India gross of 29.05 crore and a worldwide total nearing 40 crore, the film is in a stable position. The upcoming weekdays will be crucial in determining its final lifetime tally, but for now, the steady occupancy in its core markets and the strong performance in national chains indicate that the film is likely to have a healthy run for the remainder of the week.