Kamal Haasan’s ‘Indian 2’ hits a bump! Can it recover at the box office?

Kamal Haasan’s latest cinematic venture, ‘Indian 2’, experienced a turbulent first week at the box office after its pan-Indian release on July 12, 2024. The film, directed by S Shankar, is a sequel to the 1996 blockbuster ‘Indian’ and marks Haasan’s return as the vigilante Senapathy. Despite high expectations, the film opened to mixed reviews and saw significant drops in revenue by Monday and Tuesday, only to experience a slight recovery on Wednesday due to the Muharram holiday, grossing Rs 5.5 crore on its sixth day. The cumulative box office collection now stands over Rs 130 crore.

Initial enthusiasm for ‘Indian 2’ saw a solid weekend performance, but it wasn’t enough to sustain the momentum into the week. Critics pointed to Shankar’s screenplay as outdated, although Ravi Varman’s cinematography received praise for its visual appeal. In an attempt to address the lukewarm reception, the film’s runtime was cut by 12 minutes, reducing it from three hours to a more streamlined experience. This revised version was quickly introduced to theaters, with Lyca Productions announcing the change on their official X page, emphasizing a crisper cinematic experience.

The revised version of ‘Indian 2’, now shorter by 12 minutes, aims to improve engagement and potentially rejuvenate box office performance. “Witness the enhanced version of #Indian2. Now presenting a streamlined edition trimmed by 12 min. Catch it in cinemas near you for a crisper experience!” stated the production house.

The movie features a stellar cast including Kajal Aggarwal, Siddharth, and Rakul Preet Singh, alongside Haasan. Despite the star-studded lineup and significant pre-release hype, ‘Indian 2’ has started losing screens to newer releases such as R Parthiban’s ‘Teenz’, indicating a challenging path ahead in the competitive cinema landscape.

As ‘Indian 2’ navigates through its theatrical run, the upcoming days will be crucial in determining its final verdict. With the adjustments made and some positive aspects like its cinematography, the film seeks to capture the audience’s imagination and salvage its reputation among fans and critics alike.