Kanguva Sees Slight Box Office Recovery on First Sunday

The Suriya-led fantasy action film Kanguva witnessed a modest recovery in its domestic box office performance on Sunday. After a strong opening day collection of ₹24 crore across India, the film faced a sharp decline of nearly 61% on its first Friday, earning ₹9.5 crore.

Over the weekend, Kanguva picked up momentum, collecting ₹9.85 crore on Saturday and approximately ₹10.5 crore on Sunday. As of its first Sunday, the total domestic box office earnings stood at ₹53.85 crore, according to trade portal Sacnilk.

Struggles with Word of Mouth and Music Criticism

Despite its grand budget of ₹350 crore, Kanguva faced challenges with negative word of mouth from its opening day, which affected its box office potential. Music director Devi Sri Prasad, also known as DSP, has been criticised for the excessively loud background score, with some scenes reportedly crossing the 100-decibel mark, raising concerns among viewers.

Actor Jyothika, Suriya’s wife, addressed the mixed reception in an Instagram post, sharing her thoughts as a cinema lover. She praised Suriya’s efforts but acknowledged the film’s flaws, particularly the jarring sound and the underwhelming first half hour. However, she also highlighted the groundbreaking visuals and execution, calling it a "cinematic experience."

"So proud of you Suriya, for the actor you are and how you dare to dream to take cinema forward. Definitely the first 1/2 hr doesn’t work n the sound is jarring! Flaws r a part of most Indian films, so that’s only fair, especially in this kind of a film wherein one experiments largely! N it’s just the first 1/2 hr from the whole 3 hrs. But to be true, it’s an absolute cinematic experience! Camera work n execution never before seen in Tamizh cinema, @vetripalanisamy (sic)."

Story, Cast, and Ratings

Directed by Siva, Kanguva tells the story of a tribal prince from a millennium ago whose fight to protect his people ties into a bounty hunter’s mission in 2024. Suriya plays dual roles as Kanguva and Francis Theodore, while the ensemble cast includes Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley, and Natarajan Subramaniam. The film also features Karthi in a dual cameo as Rathaagasan and Commander Ryan.

The film currently holds an IMDb rating of 5.5/10, reflecting mixed reactions from audiences.

A Cinematic Gamble

While Kanguva showcases stunning visuals and an ambitious narrative, it has yet to capitalise fully on its potential. As it continues its run, industry watchers will be keen to see if the film can overcome its early setbacks and sustain audience interest.