Prabhas' Salaar Day 1 Kerala box office gross tops off a dismal year for Malayalam films in 2023

Although Salaar's first-day gross is not the highest of any non-Malayalam movie in Kerala, it is still among the top five day one grossers at the Kerala Box Office in 2023.

Prabhas in Salaar | Photo: Youtube/ Screengrab

Prashanth Neel’s Salaar- Part 1: Ceasefire collected Rs 5 crore on the opening day on December 22. Although Salaar's first-day gross is not the highest of any non-Malayalam movie in Kerala, it is still among the top five day one grossers at the Kerala Box Office in 2023, with Vijay's Leo and Rajnikanth's Jailer occupying the top two spots, respectively. Following incredible pre-booking ticket sales across India, particularly in the southern states like Kerala, Leo grossed Rs 12 crore on its opening day.

Fans were looking forward to the Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran film, with many speculating about its possible link to Prashanth's highly successful KGF franchise. The Malayali audience was also excited to witness their favourite hero, Prithviraj, perform in a ruthless and distinctive avatar.

Also Read: Salaar box office collection Day 1 - Prabhas' film makes a grand start in Telangana; earns ₹22 crore

Highest grossing Telugu films in Kerala belong to Prabhas

After the 2015 release of S S Rajamouli's Bahubali: The Beginning, Prabhas gained popularity in Kerala. The film attracted audiences after earning favourable reviews, which raised hopes for the much-awaited sequel.

According to a report by FilmiBeat, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion made over 75 crores in revenue after playing in theatres for 100 days in Kerala. Even with less anticipation, Salaar brought in Rs 5 crore on its first day of sales in the state. His previous films, Saaho and Radhe Shyam were also released in Malayalam, however did not work well in the box office.

Also Read: Salaar Ceasefire - Prabhas laps up incredible record in Karnataka, going past Yash, Darshan & others

Malayalam films failed to break records in 2023

Despite taking in about Rs 5.75 crore on its opening day, Dulquer Salmaan's King of Kotha was unable to maintain its momentum because of the audience's mixed reviews. Meanwhile, films like Romancham, RDX: Robert Dony Xavier, and Mammootty’s Kannur Squad did well in the box office but could not bring in record-breaking collections on the first day of release.

High expectations for Malayalam films in 2024

Mohanlal's Malaikottai Vaaliban, which will release in January, is expected to make record-breaking first-day collections. The actor’s debut directorial, Barroz, will also be hitting theatres in the coming year. In addition, movie buffs anticipate seeing Prithviraj's Aadujeevitham, Tovino's Ajayante Randam Moshanam, and Jayasurya's Kathanar - The Wild Sorcerer.

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