Thalapathy films make 44% of 2023 Tamil Box Office earnings

Thalapathy Vijay two films ( leo- Varisu) released in 2023 contributed to 44 % of the year box office top 5 films. The top 5 grossed more than Rs 100 crores plus, the rest of the five barely touched Rs 50 crore mark. Though the year was a Thalapathy- Thalaivar and Thala dominated year, the legendary Mani Rathinam held out in figured in top 5 with PS 2 clocking Rs 140 cr and fourth slot. Though the film had Vikram – Trisha- Karthi- Jeyam Ravi in the cast, PS 2 got the numbers on the strength of Mani’s name and the audience appreciation of his craft. Last year too he maintained his box office hold with PS 1. The year 2003 saw Vishal who was badly mauled year after year bounce back and that too with a bang. Mark Antony made on a budget of Rs 28 crores went on to collect a gross of Rs 100 crore and surprisingly it was directed by Adhik who is no great shaker at the box office. Similarly was the case of Por Thozhil a crime investigation thriller with Ashok Selvan and Sarath Kumar which made on a budget of Rs 8 crores that collected Rs 28 crores. Ajith’s Thunivu ( Rs 118 crore). Rajinikanth Jailor ( Rs 196 crore) are two other films that figured in top 5. Jailor was crucial for Rajinikanth as it had been quite some time that he delivered a blockbuster and to top it was directed by Nelson who got badly panned by critics for his outing with Vijay in Beast (2022). The film collected on Vijay’s stardom but it was a risk for Rajini as he was not keeping his form. Things turned in his favour and it brought him back. In the Rs 50 crore film slot and the last 5 of the 10, was another surprise. It was Vadivelu and Udhaynidhi Stalin film Mammannan . Vadivelu in a serious role and a not so commercial film by Mari Selvaraj, the film made at Rs 25 crores had collected Rs 71 crores. Two films Maaveeran of Sivakarthikeyan and Director Karthik Subburaj- Lawrence film Jigarthanda XX are put in top 10 list by some trade portals. Maaveeran budget was Rs 85 crore and it collected Rs 81 crore. Similarly Jigarthanda budget was Rs 65 crore and it collected only Rs 45 crore. Going by this yardstick, LGM starring Harish Kalyan made at Rs 8 crore collected Rs 9 crore and should be a hit. Harish had a winner in Parking but rains played spoil sport and ruined the run. Lady Superstar Nayanthara film Annapoorani too suffered the same fate but the film content was bad. Two biggest flops of 2023 were much hyped Chandramukhi 2 with Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut that cost Lyca the tidy amount of Rs 65 crores could come up with Rs 51 crore. The biggest flop was Japan starring Karthi. Its budget was Rs 80 crore and got back Rs 28 crores. Santhanam who started well with DD Returns bit dust with 80’s Buildup. Simbhu- Dhanush- Suriya had no releases and so also last year’s blockbuster film Vikram’s hero Kamal Haasan. 2024 will see all the Kollywood top draws at the box office is the point that excite Tamil movie buffs. To add more fizz, we will see Shankar too with Indian 2 to give Mani’s Thug Life a fight.