Dhanush Thiruchitrambalam victory is like Vikram to Kamal Haasan

 

Dhanush box office hit of Thiruchitrambalam is no less significant than that of Kamal Haasan’s Vikram in terms of the revenue and also like Kamal , it was a significant come back of an actor who was written off.  Dhanush fans were angry with the trash that came out on OTT and family audience were angry that he had `divorced’ Superstar’ daughter.

Dhanush slot in the Kollywood sphere was that of a middle class boy next door who spoke the Chennai slang and was an agile street fighter. This took various avatars in different backgrounds and when it started getting into a MASS hero with no story to say, films bombed. It was around that time that Karnan happened and he was back with a double bang. But he cannot have a director like Vetrimaaran and a producer like Thanu to bring him back.

Thiruchitrambalam victory is in many ways a personal triumph for Dhanush. One, it has him in a middle class guy slot and acceptance by audience shows that the post is still remains his. Secondly, he is not doing the street rowdy character who mouths swear words and bashes hundreds of goons. This sober down role has been accepted  by a family audience and this is like having a ` committed’ audience who will see him in such genre of films. Thirdly, the victory will rest squarely on his shoulder and does not have to share it with anybody. Mithran is no Vetrimaaran.

Apart from this, is the realisation of Dhanush about his market range. If sources close to Sun Pictures are to be believed, Dhanush asked for and  was paid only  Rs 15 crore. It was his way of making his film , a profitable outing for the producer. Unlike the other STAR’s who refuse to climb down and accept reality, Dhanush took several steps down and it paid off. Those in the trade say that even if Thiruchitrambalam was average box office, producer would have won.

Trade analysts say film entered Rs 100 cr club and as later releases like Liger being a bomb, Thiruchitrambalam is getting 70 % occupancy even now.  Rs 50 crores accounts from Tamil Nadu alone of the  Rs 60 crores total from India.  Overseas it has touched Rs 23 crores. Now for fans- “#Thiruchitrambalam with ₹70.75 cr BEATS #Beast lifetime ₹65.45 cr to become the 7th HIGHEST grosser of the year in TN Box Office.”- analyst Manobala latest.

For Hollywood movie ` Gray Man’, Dhanush charged only Rs 5 crores and this has made him a first choice for producers in USA and UK who are looking for an Indian actor with a popular base at home.