The sequel to the controversial hit The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond has managed a respectable start at the Indian box office. Despite facing multiple challenges before release, the film has collected around ₹10 crore nett in its opening weekend.
The movie earned approximately ₹4.75 crore on Sunday, bringing its three-day total to the ₹10 crore mark. While the growth over the weekend was moderate, the overall performance is considered decent given the circumstances surrounding its release.
Delayed Shows Turn Friday Into Preview Day
The film encountered legal hurdles before release, which delayed screenings in several locations. Because of this, regular shows were only allowed to begin later in the evening on Friday.
As a result, Friday effectively functioned as a preview day, while Saturday became the film’s actual opening day in many markets.
This unusual release pattern affected the initial momentum that films usually get from full-day Friday screenings.
Sunday Collections Impacted by Cricket Match
The Sunday box office performance was also influenced by a major cricket match, which limited the expected growth in footfalls.
Even though the film managed to collect nearly ₹4.75 crore on Sunday, the presence of the cricket event likely prevented stronger growth on what is normally the biggest day of the weekend.
Opening Performance Considered Fair
Trade analysts believe the opening numbers are fair rather than spectacular. The film does not feature major star power and has been produced on a relatively modest budget.
However, the sequel benefited from the recognition created by its predecessor The Kerala Story, which was a major box office success.
The original film opened with ₹6.75 crore and eventually collected around ₹220 crore nett during its theatrical run, becoming one of the most talked-about films of 2023.
Audience Interest Still Visible in Hindi Belt
Much like the first installment, the sequel appears to be attracting interest particularly in the Hindi-speaking regions. The subject matter of the film continues to resonate with a section of the audience.
Trade observers have previously noted that the first film even performed like an educational film in certain regions, where organized screenings were arranged for viewers.
Trend of Similar Films Has Slowed Down
In recent years, films dealing with similar themes had experienced strong box office success. However, the momentum for such films has slowed somewhat.
For example, The Kashmir Files became a major blockbuster, but its follow-up trend has been inconsistent. Some later releases in the same category failed to attract large audiences.
Despite this changing trend, The Kerala Story 2 has managed to avoid a poor opening and instead delivered a respectable start.
Clean Run Before Major Releases
One factor that may benefit the film is its clear window at the box office before the arrival of upcoming big-budget releases like Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic, which are scheduled to arrive around March 19.
If the movie manages to maintain steady footfalls among its target audience, it could continue performing reasonably well until those films hit theatres.
The Kerala Story 2 Opening Weekend Box Office Collection
| Day | Nett Collection |
|---|---|
| Friday | ₹0.75 crore |
| Saturday | ₹4.50 crore |
| Sunday | ₹4.75 crore |
| Total | ₹10.00 crore nett |
The coming weekdays will now determine whether the film can maintain its momentum or if the collections will drop significantly after the opening weekend.
