BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 16 - The makers of the upcoming comedy entertainer Golmaal 5 have reportedly addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding Akshay Kumar and his reported remuneration for the film. Over the last few days, multiple reports claimed that Akshay was being paid a massive 35-40 crore fee for a short shooting schedule in the upcoming comedy entertainer. However, the production house, Rohit Shetty Picturez, has now dismissed all such reports as baseless and purely speculative. In an official statement (via Bollywood Hungama), the spokesperson clarified that the commercial details of the film are confidential and that the numbers being circulated online are not true. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The clarification came after it was reported in the media that Akshay Kumar was charging more than Ajay Devgn for the film. According to those reports, Akshay was allegedly receiving 35-40 crore for around 18-22 days of shoot, while Ajay Devgn was said to be working on a profit-sharing model. Despite the rumours, the makers have requested fans to support the film and avoid believing unverified financial reports. The makers stated that the team is making the film with a lot of love and urged audiences to focus on the excitement surrounding the project rather than speculation about actor fees. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Rohit Shetty, the film marks the fifth instalment of the hugely popular Golmaal franchise. Apart from Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, the movie also stars Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Sharman Joshi, and Kunal Kemmu in prominent roles.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The sequel to the 2019 romantic comedy, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, has made a rather lukewarm entry at the box office. When the first film arrived five years ago, it hit the ground running with a solid 9.10 crore on its opening day. In contrast, this new installment has managed to collect less than half of its prequel's total, signaling a clear lack of momentum right from the start. It is a quiet beginning for a franchise that previously enjoyed a much stronger pull with the audience. On its first Friday, the film brought in a net of 4 crore across a very wide release of 6,822 shows. This translated into an India gross of 4.80 crore. While the massive show count provided plenty of oxygen for the film to perform, the actual moolah entering the kitty remains underwhelming. For a movie playing on over 6,800 screens, an opening of the 4 crore mark suggests that the content failed to generate the necessary early-day spark to fill those seats. The performance in the national multiplex chains reflects this struggle. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold approximately 19,400 tickets on its opening day, contributing roughly 61 lakh to the gross. PVR accounted for about 10,400 tickets sold across 1,234 shows, while INOX and Cinepolis combined added another 8,900 tickets. Despite being available at roughly 380 venues within these national chains, the overall occupancy hovered around a low 3 percent. The wide availability of shows simply did not match the actual demand at the ticket counters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the digital front, the film saw some activity as the day progressed. Approximately 1.69 lakh tickets were sold on BookMyShow for the opening day. The booking pace did see a slight peak during the evening hours, reaching between 35,000 to 39,000 tickets per hour. While this suggests that some urban viewers opted for late-night screenings, it was not enough to significantly move the needle or bridge the massive gap left by the 2019 original. Regional occupancy numbers across major circuits remained mostly in the single digits or low teens. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the film had 958 shows but could only manage a 9.8 percent occupancy. Mumbai was slightly better at 13.8 percent occupancy across 509 shows, while cities like Pune and Jaipur saw 14.5 percent and 13.3 percent respectively. Even in these metros, the morning and afternoon shows were extremely dull. With the initial Friday numbers coming in so low, the film now faces an uphill task to show any significant growth over the rest of the weekend.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - After years of experiments, mixed results, and films that failed to fully tap into his mass appeal, Suriya has finally returned in the form fans had desperately missed. Karuppu is not just another release in his filmography — it feels like the comeback of the vintage Suriya who once dominated the box office with powerful screen presence, intensity, and crowd-pulling charisma. For a long time, there has been a feeling among fans that Suriya was moving away from the zone where he looked most comfortable. While some of his recent films earned appreciation for performances and storytelling, the larger-than-life aura associated with the actor was missing. Karuppu changes that instantly. From the promotional material to the theatrical response on opening day, everything points towards the return of "mass Suriya". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film arrived with solid buzz despite facing release hurdles. Originally scheduled to release a day earlier, the shows were cancelled due to financial and distribution-related issues. Instead of hurting the film, the delay only increased curiosity and online conversation. Once the film finally hit theatres, the response turned explosive, especially on booking platforms where ticket sales surged rapidly. It grossed around 18 crore in India and close to 25 crore worldwide on its opening day, which is the second biggest opening for the actor. One of the biggest talking points has been the overwhelming reaction to Suriya's screen presence. Fans are celebrating his intense dialogue delivery, action sequences, body language, and vintage swagger that had been missing for some years, especially since the pandemic. The actor appears fully charged in a role that perfectly blends emotion with mass appeal, reminding audiences why he became one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars in the first place. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Director RJ Balaji appears to have delivered something unexpected with Karuppu. Instead of relying only on social messaging or comedy, the film embraces a full-fledged commercial format while still retaining emotional depth. Early audience reactions suggest this balance is working strongly among both family audiences and hardcore fans. Karuppu is heading towards a big success story, with the second day expected to be on par or bigger than the opening day, which is a rarity in Tamil cinema. The film also arrives at an important stage in Suriya's career. The actor has consistently experimented with scripts over the years, but theatrical success on a large scale had become increasingly elusive. With the current response, the film has the potential to become a major turning point and possibly his biggest commercial success in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What makes the response even more significant is the emotional connection audiences seem to have developed with the film. Many viewers are calling it "the Suriya comeback they were waiting for," while social media has been flooded with celebrations comparing his performance to his peak commercial era. If the momentum continues over the weekend, Karuppu could emerge as more than just a box office hit.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 16 - Superstar Ram Charan’s much-awaited sports action drama Peddi continues to show excellent momentum in overseas advance booking. The film has now sold 10,000 tickets for its North American premiere shows, nearly three weeks ahead of release. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the big-budget entertainer had already created a record by becoming the fastest Indian film to cross $100K in North America pre-sales, achieving the milestone within just four hours of bookings opening. According to the latest trade reports, the premiere pre-sales in North America have now surpassed the $300K mark, signalling strong buzz for the film among overseas audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's strong advance booking trend is being driven by Ram Charan's growing popularity after RRR, along with the strong response to the promotional material and songs. Trade circles are expecting Peddi to emerge as one of the biggest premiere grossers for a Telugu film in North America if the current pace continues over the coming days. Reports suggest Peddi is aiming for a massive release with hundreds of premiere shows planned across the USA and Canada. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead alongside Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu in key roles. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and IVY Entertainment, Peddi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on June 4, 2026.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - After a series of underperformances, Tamil superstar Suriya seems to have come back in the game with action drama Karuppu. The film has had its struggles to hit the big screens. It was supposed to be released on May 14, but the financial issues forced the makers to cancel the shows for the entire day, and it eventually hit the big screens on May 15. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's advance booking was disrupted due to the last-minute changes. Before the film was pushed to May 15, Karuppu had sold over 500K tickets in advance for May 14. This, as said, eventually became worthless once the film was pushed back by a day, as advance tickets sold for May 15 were around 75K. However, the delay in the release amplified the buzz as Karuppu was all in its glory on the release day. It sold 700K tickets on BookMyShow for both Tamil and Telugu versions on May 15 only, making it the fourth highest Tamil film, and highest ever for a Suriya starrer, in terms of ticket sales on BMS on the release day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu's hourly BMS ticket sales peaked at 46.2K, which is again a record for the Singham star. There is no denying that the cancellation of the original day 1 fueled the massive response on the BooMyShow, but the numbers are still huge for an actor who hasn't had a success in recent times. Meanwhile, superstar Rajinikanth's Jailer is the number one film in terms of BMS ticket sales on the release day with 1 million tickets. Thalapathy Vijay's Leo is the second in the list with 756K tickets sold, followed by Rajinikanth's Coolie with 715K tickets. With 700K tickets, Suriya is now officially in the league of Tamil cinema giants. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Tamil Films By Day 1 BookMyShow Ticket Sales S. No. Movie Lead Actor Day 1 BMS Ticket Sales (Tamil) 1 Jailer Rajinikanth 1M 2 Leo Vijay 756K 3 Coolie Rajinikanth 715K 4 Karuppu Suriya 700K 5 The GOAT Vijay 584K Data via Filmy View/X*

BY CHRISTA LINCY

There is something incredibly nostalgic about watching a pair return to the screen after a long gap, and in the case of Suriya and Trisha Krishnan, that gap has spanned over two decades. Their latest collaboration in Karuppu is not just another theatrical release; it is a celebration of a journey that began in the early 2000s. For many moviegoers, seeing these two together again is a reminder of why they were once considered the quintessential face of modern Tamil romance. From the quiet streets of Mounam Pesiyadhe to the gritty landscape of Karuppu, their dynamic has evolved from youthful chase to seasoned partnership. To understand the depth of this pairing, we have to go back to where it all began in 2002 with Mounam Pesiyadhe. This was a landmark film for several reasons—it was the debut of director Ameer and marked Trisha's first lead role. At the time, the film operated on a modest budget of approximately 1.5 crore, but it went on to collect nearly 9.2 crore worldwide, earning a Superhit verdict. The chemistry was built on the Opposites Attract template, with Suriya playing the cynical Goutham and Trisha as the bubbly Sandhya. It established the famous eye-contact chemistry where their silence often spoke louder than words, a trait that became their trademark. Here is a look at their historical collaborations and how their lifetime numbers compare to the massive start of their latest outing: Suriya & Trisha Box Office Journey: Comparing Past Hits With Karuppu's Record Opening Day MOVIE NAME APPROX. WW LIFETIME GROSS Mounam Pesiyadhe(2002) ₹ 9.20 Cr Aayutha Ezhuthu(2004) ₹ 11.00 Cr Aaru(2005) ₹ 12.50 Cr Karuppu(2026) ₹ 18.00 Cr India Gross (Day 1) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The duo then moved into what many call their Intellectual Phase with Mani Ratnam's Aayutha Ezhuthu in 2004. Here, Suriya's Michael Vasanth and Trisha's Geetha felt like equals. They were urban, modern, and their romance was rooted in mutual respect rather than typical tropes. While the hyperlink narrative was experimental for its time and faced some challenges in rural markets, it was a solid hit with an approximate worldwide gross of 11 crore against a 5 crore budget. To this day, the beach argument and the proposal scene remain some of the most realistic portrayals of young love in Tamil cinema. By 2005, they transitioned into the high-octane commercial space with Aaru. This was a classic Beauty and the Beast dynamic, where Trisha's character acted as the moral compass for Suriya's unrefined street thug. Aaru was a significant commercial success, grossing approximately 12 crore worldwide. It was particularly strong in Tamil Nadu, where it earned around 11 crore in that state alone. Interestingly, Suriya's character in Aaru was named Saravanan—which is the actor's real birth name—and Karuppu brings this full circle by using the same name for his character once again. Fast forward to 2026, and Karuppu presents us with the Modern and Gritty version of this pair. Moving away from traditional romance, they function as a formidable power couple. Suriya plays a vigilante caught in a moral gray area, while Trisha portrays a sharp professional who acts as his strategist. Unlike her recent special appearances or limited roles in other big-ticket films, her role in Karuppu is a full-fledged lead. Their partnership here mirrors the intense, grounded energy found in Suriya's recent successes like Jai Bhim, focusing on shared trauma and a common goal to take down a corrupt system. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Director RJ Balaji has clearly made this film with a fan-boy's heart, packing it with nostalgic Easter eggs. He intentionally recreated the famous watermelon scene from Ghajini to introduce that original style to Gen-Z audiences. There is also a courtroom callback that reminds viewers of Jai Bhim, but with the added intellectual spark reminiscent of Michael and Geetha from Aayutha Ezhuthu. Even the dialogue Daddy is home serves as a meta-reference to his iconic dual roles in the past. Balaji's use of tight close-up shots on their eyes during planning scenes is a direct tribute to the minimalism that defined their first film together. The success of the Suriya-Trisha dynamic lies in its maturity. Throughout their filmography, Trisha's characters have always been the catalyst for change in Suriya's world, forcing his characters to evolve and find a new path. Whether it was Goutham finding love, Michael finding a partner in his activism, or Aaru finding a reason to leave crime, the pattern remains. In Karuppu, that growth continues as they stand together as equals. For fans who have followed them for 20 years, seeing them reclaim their throne at the box office is as much about the nostalgia as it is about the excellent filmmaking.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya has finally found the theatrical footing he has been searching for over the last thirteen years. While his recent journey has included ambitious big-screen projects like Kanguva and critically acclaimed hits like Soorarai Pottru and Jai Bhim—which were unfortunately restricted to OTT releases due to the pandemic—the raw, mass-market success of the Singham era had remained elusive in cinema halls. Karuppu changes that narrative. Acting as a major theatrical comeback for the star, the film delivers the kind of high-octane energy that fans have been craving since his peak years in the early 2010s. It is a return to form that reminds the trade why Suriya remains one of the most bankable names in the South. The journey to the theaters was not without its share of drama. Initially scheduled for a May 14 release, eleventh-hour financial hurdles forced the producers to shift the opening by a day. While such a last-minute delay often hurts a film's momentum, for Karuppu, it seemed to only heighten the anticipation among the audience. When the movie finally hit screens on May 15, the response was immediate and strong. On its opening day, the film collected a net of 15.50 crore across 4,891 shows in India, resulting in a domestic gross of approximately 18 crore. This performance confirms that the last-minute scheduling shift did little to dampen the star's pulling power at the ticket windows. Total India Net Collection: ₹15.50 Cr Total India Gross Collection: ₹18.00 Cr Tamil Net Collection: ₹13.10 Cr Telugu Net Collection: ₹2.40 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The linguistic breakdown highlights the film's core strength in its home territory. The Tamil version led the charge with 13.10 crore net, operating at a very healthy 54 percent occupancy. The Telugu version added another 2.40 crore to the kitty, maintaining a 30 percent occupancy. State-wise, Tamil Nadu was the primary driver with an 11.25 crore gross. Interestingly, the film showed decent reach across other southern states, pulling in 3.00 crore in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions, 2.00 crore in Karnataka, and 1.50 crore in Kerala. The rest of India contributed a modest 0.18 crore, as the film currently remains a heavy hitter primarily in the South. Occupancy rates in major cities suggest that the movie is successfully drawing people into theaters for evening and night shows. In Chennai, the film opened with a massive 70.5 percent overall occupancy across 592 shows, with night shows peaking at a staggering 92 percent. Coimbatore was not far behind with 63.8 percent occupancy. In the Telugu market, Hyderabad saw 31.5 percent occupancy across 246 shows, while Vizag recorded a higher 36 percent. Bengaluru also stayed steady with 38.5 percent occupancy across 367 shows. These numbers indicate that the word-of-mouth among the mass audience is translating into high seat-fill rates. Looking at the broader 2024 box office charts, the first-day performance of Karuppu has managed to find a respectable place among the top performers in recent years. Despite the scheduling hurdles and the last-minute release shift, the film has successfully broken into the list of the biggest Kollywood openings seen from 2024 onwards. Here is how the top 10 rankings currently stand based on their India net collections. Top 10 Kollywood Openers (From 2024) - Day 1 Net MOVIE NAME INDIA NET COLLECTION Coolie ₹ 44.50 Cr The Greatest of All Time ₹ 39.15 Cr Good Bad Ugly ₹ 28.15 Cr Vettaiyan ₹ 27.75 Cr Vidaamuyarchi ₹ 25.50 Cr Amaran ₹ 17.45 Cr Retro ₹ 17.25 Cr Indian 2 ₹ 16.50 Cr Karuppu ₹ 15.50 Cr Kanguva ₹ 14.90 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the overall Day 1 performance is encouraging, a deeper look at the morning trends reveals some room for growth. On its opening morning, Karuppu recorded around 25 percent occupancy, which is a significant step down from the 75 percent morning occupancy seen by Suriya's previous film, Retro. However, this slower start is understandable when you consider the chaos surrounding the release. The lower morning turnout was largely a result of the immense confusion and last-minute updates regarding the shifting release date. Moving the film from Thursday to Friday at the eleventh hour left many casual moviegoers unsure of the actual schedule, which naturally impacted the initial rush. As reported, the film entered theatres on a very strong financial footing, thanks to its impressive pre-release business. Karuppu has already recovered over 110 crore through the sale of its satellite, digital, and theatrical rights even before the first show began. This significant recovery provides a substantial safety net for the producers and serves as a testament to the massive brand value Suriya continues to command in the trade, despite a few years of theatrical turbulence. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Watch audiences reception Thambi.@SaiAbhyankkar, do you even realize what you’ve done to #TamilNadu?.@RJ_Balaji’ climax of #Karuppu starring.@Suriya_offl has sent theatres into absolute madness fans screaming, dancing, and literally “saami aadifying” inside cinema halls! Mass hysteria at another level! pic.twitter.com/83dKEmXDtJ— Parthiban Shanmugam (@hollywoodcurry) May 15, 2026 However, given that this is a high-budget venture, the focus now shifts to how the movie performs over the long haul. While the pre-release deals have moved it closer to the safe zone, the film needs to deliver big and maintain sustained legs at the ticket windows to be a definitive victory after the stars recent setbacks.The combination of a steady domestic run and a strong contribution from the overseas market will be the deciding factors in making Karuppu a massive theatrical success. The performance across the national multiplex chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—highlights the strong interest the film has generated. On its opening Friday, these major chains recorded a combined sale of over 29,000 tickets, contributing roughly 48 lakh to the day's gross. PVR led the charge by selling approximately 21,100 tickets with an occupancy of nearly 25 percent, while INOX and Cinepolis together added another 8,000 tickets to the tally. This momentum was equally strong on digital platforms, with BookMyShow reporting a massive 7 lakh ticket sales for Day 1 alone. Now that the initial release hurdles are cleared and the film has secured a domestic gross of 18 crore, Karuppu has successfully set the stage for a very promising first weekend.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Bhooth Bangla has hit a significant turning point in its box office journey. For the first time since its release 29 days ago, the daily collections have dipped below the 1 crore mark. On its fifth Friday, the film brought in 0.75 crore net, which reflects a 40 percent drop from the 1.25 crore it earned on Thursday. While the film has shown incredible stamina so far, this shift is a natural result of a crowded Friday marketplace and a logical change in theater scheduling. This dip is a direct result of the heavy competition entering the arena. The arrival of new titles like Pati Patni Aur Woh Do and Aakhri Sawal has caused a significant shift in screen allocation, with Pati Patni Aur Woh Do immediately climbing to the second spot in national level ticket sales. When you add the two-week-old hit Raja Shivaji to the mix—which is still holding strong after previously topping charts—the screen sharing impact becomes very clear. Bhooth Bangla saw its show count slashed from 4,061 on Thursday to just 2,297 on Friday. As a result, Bhooth Bangla saw its show count slashed from 4,061 on Thursday to 2,297 on Friday. If we look closely at the performance within the major national multiplex chains, we can see how the screen sharing played out. In total, the big three—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—accounted for approximately 2,500 tickets on Friday, contributing roughly 7.3 lakh to the day's gross. PVR led the trio with around 1,000 tickets sold and a gross of 3.5 lakh. INOX followed closely with another 1,000 tickets for a 2.7 lakh gross, while Cinepolis added about 400 tickets and 1.1 lakh to the tally. On the digital front, BookMyShow recorded 11.96K tickets for the day, which pushes the total lifetime bookings on that platform to a massive 30.82 lakh. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the occupancy across major regions, the film continues to find takers in the metros despite fewer screenings. In Mumbai, the movie recorded 16.3 percent occupancy across 86 shows, a notable shift from the 10.8 percent occupancy it saw across 142 shows on Thursday. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the occupancy stood at 9.8 percent across 282 shows, compared to 7.8 percent across 478 shows yesterday. Ahmedabad also followed this trend, recording 8.3 percent occupancy across 137 shows. These numbers suggest that while the show volume has decreased, the audience is still turning up for the available slots. Despite the slowing daily pace, the overall numbers for Bhooth Bangla remain very impressive. The total India net collection now stands at 165.05 crore, while the India gross has reached 195.70 crore. The overseas market added another 5 lakh to the kitty on Day 29, bringing the total international gross to 53.35 crore. All of this brings the worldwide gross collection to 249.05 crore. The film is now just a few steps away from the 250 crore worldwide milestone, a feat it should comfortably achieve by today.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Here is the Hindi movie Aakhri Sawal box office collection which is a drama film. This film is directed by Abhijeet Mohan Warang and produced by Nikhil Nanda Motion Pictures and Neem Tree Entertainment. ## Aakhri Sawal stars Sanjay Dutt, Namashi Chakraborthy, Nitu Chandra Srivastava, Amit Sadh, Sameera Reddy, and Mrinal Kulkarni in key roles. ## Aakhri Sawal Box Office Collection Day Wise | All Language DayIndia Net Collection Day 1 [1st Friday] ₹ - Cr * may earn Total ₹ - Cr ## India Net Collection ₹ - Cr ## Worldwide Collection ₹ - Cr ## Overseas Collection ₹ - Cr ## India Gross Collection ₹ - Cr ## Aakhri Sawal Budget: ₹ - Cr * Approx ## Aakhri Sawal Verdict: Coming Soon ## Aakhri Sawal Screen count ## India: - ## Overseas: - ## Worldwide total: - ## Release Date: 15th May 2026 ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood Box Office Collection, Stay tuned to us.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, May 15 - Telugu superstar Ram Charan's upcoming pan-India sports action drama Peddi has reportedly been made on a staggering budget of around 350 crore, making it one of the costliest Telugu films ever produced. The massive budget has now become part of the ongoing tension between Telangana exhibitors and producers over the percentage model dispute. During a recent chamber meeting amid the ongoing conflict, the producer of Peddi reportedly made an emotional appeal requesting exhibitors not to affect the film's release. "My release was planned even before this issue. I spent 350 crores on this film. We have already postponed from March 27 and April 30. My film should not be affected by this percentage model conflict," the producer said during the discussion, according to Gulte. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The dispute erupted after several Telangana single-screen exhibitors demanded a shift from the current rental system to a percentage-sharing model, claiming theatres are facing severe financial pressure. Some exhibitors have even threatened to boycott major releases if their demands are not addressed soon. With Peddi positioned as one of the biggest Telugu releases of the year, the issue has created significant concern within the industry. Trade circles believe producers are particularly worried because any disruption in Telangana could impact the film's collections despite the strong buzz surrounding the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi stars Ram Charan in a rugged sports-action avatar alongside Janhvi Kapoor. The film also features Jagapathi Babu, Shiva Rajkumar, and Divayenndu in key roles, with music composed by A. R. Rahman. The trailer and promotional assets have already generated massive anticipation across Telugu states and overseas markets. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and IVY Entertainment, the film is scheduled for a grand worldwide release on June 4, 2026, while negotiations between exhibitors and producers are still ongoing in Telangana.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya is back on the big screen with Karuppu, and the early buzz suggests that the film is off to a flying start. Directed by RJ Balaji, this movie is an interesting blend of a fantasy courtroom drama and a mass superhero entertainer. The story follows a man with divine powers who navigates a corrupt judicial system. While the first half stays grounded as a hard-hitting take on the legal system in a lower court, the second half switches into what critics are calling God mode, where the protagonist uses supernatural elements to take on his enemies. The response at the ticket windows has been nothing short of phenomenal. Karuppu has managed to secure the 4th spot for peak hour sales on BookMyShow, which is quite a feat for a non-holiday release. During the peak hour of 1 pm to 2 pm today, the film sold over 40,450 tickets. This makes it only the 4th Tamil film ever to cross the 40K hourly sales mark on the platform, joining the ranks of blockbusters like Leo, Coolie, and Jailer. From 6 am to 2 pm, the movie has already sold a total of 1,92,070 tickets on BookMyShow, proving that the fan excitement is at an all-time high. Critical reception has been generally positive, with most reviews falling between 3.25 and 4 out of 5. The leading star is being praised for fitting the title role perfectly, especially in how the character controls his rage in the beginning and goes full blast towards the end. The supporting cast, playing roles ranging from a wily, unscrupulous lawyer to an upright legal professional, have also been noted for their strong performances. The courtroom drama is said to have a neat emotional angle that keeps the audience hooked throughout the first half. The film is being described as a proper theatrical mass entertainer that is best enjoyed with an energetic crowd and loud celebrations. The first half provides a good emotional connect, while the climax is packed with whistle-worthy moments and a superb ending. Technically, the background score is receiving praise for elevating the emotional and mass sequences, and the visuals involving the fantasy elements are reportedly well-executed. While some felt the songs were average, the overall technical package is being seen as a significant strength for the film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Some observers pointed out that the second half lacks the tight grip of the first half and relies more on theatrical gimmicks and references to other major hit films. There is a specific one-liner and several popular culture references that have been included to add zest to the proceedings. While these moments worked well for many, some felt they were a bit of a departure from the earlier tone. Despite these minor critiques, the movie is being seen as a satisfying mass entertainer for families this summer. With such a massive start in ticket sales, the journey at the box office is off to a very promising start. With its massive ticket sales and the generally positive word-of-mouth, Karuppu is well on its way to becoming a significant box office success. The combination of Suriya's intense screen presence and the fantasy-mythological elements involving Karuppu Saamy seems to have struck the right chord. It remains to be seen how the movie holds up over the weekend, but for now, it is safe to say that the God mode has officially begun at the theaters. Take a look at what critics have to say about the film #Karuppu Review : Fantasy courtroom drama with mass superhero elements. My Rating : 3.25/5A pucca commercial movie packaged with lots of theatrical elevation scenes by @RJ_Balaji. First half is whacky and hooks you as it a hard -hitting take on how the judiciary functions… pic.twitter.com/7PlWwRirzT— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) May 15, 2026 #Karuppu is a ‘God Mode’ Mass Fantasy film, made with many enjoyable theatrical moments. A courtroom drama with good emotional connect. As God #Karuppu #Suriya sir is fabulous. Fully loaded and mass mode, especially the climax sequence. Loved it. He rocked. An engaging watch 🏆… pic.twitter.com/V2xDIagGo5— G Dhananjheyan (@Dhananjayang) May 15, 2026 #Karuppu [4/5] : BLOCKBUSTER 🔥 A Mass Fantasy Entertainer! It's @Suriya_offl show all the way! Looks into how dysfunctional our court system is..@Suriya_offl has catered to both fans and general audience.. Jus one word - GOD MODE! 🙏 @RJ_Balaji as corrupt lawyer Baby…— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 15, 2026 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #KARUPPU First Half Review 🍿 - An Entertaining Show So Far with a Neat Emotional Angle from #RjBalaji..👌- #Suriya's Entry and his Screen Presence was Terrific..🤩💥 Man Looks Semma on Screen..🤝- #SaiAbhyankkar's BGM was Superb..👌 Elevates the Emotional and Mass Scenes… pic.twitter.com/AIxKJE1Mxq— Laxmi Kanth (@iammoviebuff007) May 15, 2026 #Karuppu - 3.75 stars. A highly entertaining, high voltage commercial entertainer from @Suriya_offl after a long time. The kind of film that works across the board and proves all those wrong who doubted @RJ_Balaji’s capabilities in handling a star and a project of this scale.… pic.twitter.com/NE9wTcowhP— Haricharan Pudipeddi (@pudiharicharan) May 15, 2026 #Karuppu [#ABRatings - 4.25/5]- Action & Emotional First half followed by a Commercial second half with many high moments & references 👌- Suriya as Karuppasamy carried the role extraordinary with his screen presence👏- RJBalaji's precise Writing & SaiAbhyankkar's BGM… pic.twitter.com/xCj9bMmwgp— AmuthaBharathi (@CinemaWithAB) May 15, 2026

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 15 - The buzz for Tamil superstar Suriya's Karuppu has exploded, with the BookMyShow ticket sales indicating one of the biggest openings ever for the actor in Tamil cinema. The action drama has generated tremendous hype across Tamil Nadu and overseas markets despite facing unexpected release hurdles. Directed by RJ Balaji, the film was originally scheduled to release on May 14, but the shows were cancelled for the entire day due to financial issues. The sudden disruption only amplified the buzz surrounding the film, especially amid the positive industry reports and strong early reactions. Karuppu was officially released on May 15 and has received an excellent response at the box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest update, the film is currently selling nearly 39K tickets per hour on BookMyShow for the Tamil version, which is a record pace for a Suriya starrer. The film has already sold over 200K tickets on the platform on May 15 only, for both Tamil and Telugu versions, with half of the day still left, registering massive audience interest. Also starring Trisha Krishnan, the fantasy action drama witnessed a sharp spike in bookings after positive fan reactions started surfacing online following the early shows. Fans have particularly praised Suriya's screen presence, emotional moments, and the film's mass appeal, which are expected to boost spot bookings further through the day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the current trend, Karuppu is expected to score in the range of 20 crores gross at the domestic box office, which will be one of the biggest openings ever for Suriya. With positive word of mouth pouring in, the film is set for a big opening weekend at the worldwide box office.