The highest-grossing film in India, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule,’ the highly anticipated sequel to ‘Pushpa: The Rise,’ was a global box office phenomenon, grossing an impressive Rs 1,871 crore worldwide. Despite its massive success across India and beyond, the film faced a surprising challenge in Kerala, a state where Allu Arjun enjoys a significant fanbase.
Allu Arjun’s popularity in Kerala
Allu Arjun, affectionately known as “Bunny,” has built a strong following in Kerala through his previous films like ‘Happy,’ ‘Arya 2,’ ‘Badrinath,’ ‘Race Gurram,’ and notably ‘Pushpa: The Rise’. His popularity in the state was further increased by his efforts to connect with the Malayalam audience, including strategic promotions and the use of Malayalam lyrics in the film’s soundtrack. However, it is speculated, ‘Pushpa 2’ failed to replicate the success of its predecessor in Kerala.
Box office performance in Kerala
The film’s box office performance in Kerala was modest at best, with reports indicating that it collected around Rs 17.78 crore. This figure seems to look lower than expected, especially considering Allu Arjun’s fanbase in the state. In 13 days since its release, the movie failed to touch the Rs 15 crore mark, signaling a disappointing start, as per a report by Sacnilk it only made Rs 13.78 crore. By the end of its run, the film struggled to meet highs which seemed nearly impossible given its slow pace.
On its first day, the film broke records by collecting Rs 6.35 crore, surpassing ‘Baahubali 2’ as the highest Day 1 grosser in Kerala. However, despite this strong start, the film’s overall first-weekend collection was disappointing.
An anonymous trade analyst associated from the Malayalam industry told TOI, “The film is a big hit across the country. Kerala’s initial response was also huge and widely accepted. Maybe the flavour of the second part doesn’t suit the Kerala audience due to the huge expectations.”
Several factors are speculated to ‘Pushpa 2’s’ underwhelming performance in Kerala:
Audience preferences for content-oriented films
Kerala’s audience is known for preferring content-driven films with strong narratives and realistic storytelling. ‘Pushpa 2,’ with its high-octane action sequences and commercial formula, did not resonate as well with this demographic. The film’s mass-action style, which appealed to Hindi and Telugu rural audiences, was less effective in Kerala.
Weak script and underwhelming climax
Critics and viewers in Kerala pointed out a weak script and an underwhelming climax. The narrative, which was praised in other regions and possibly failed to impress the Malayalam audience. This dissatisfaction likely contributed to the film’s poor word-of-mouth, further impacting its box office performance.
Portrayal of Fahadh Faasil’s character
Fahadh Faasil, a beloved actor in Malayalam cinema, had a limited and less impactful role in ‘Pushpa 2’. Fans were disappointed with his character’s arc, feeling that he was underutilized and portrayed more as a clown than a formidable villain. This misstep likely alienated some viewers who had high expectations from his role in the film.
Picture Credit: X
Fans over the internet shared their take over why the film could not make an impact on Reddit. A netizen wrote, “Well you can’t go far by degrading the character arc of an actor like FaFa and reducing him to plain mockery. Let this be a lesson to Sukumar and his Writings!”
Picture Credit: Reddit Screengrab
Another wrote, “I had planned to watch it if the initial response is good. But cancelled after seeing bad reports. I guess most malayalis are like me.”
Picture Credit: Reddit Screngrab
One wrote, “There was a time Allu Arjun was so popular in Kerala that they used to call him Mallu Arjun. Over time, Keralites have learned to differentiate good films from masala crap. I hope Malayalam films have the same effect on Indian cinema as Korean films on the world.”Another reason could be the film’s appeal was more aligned with the tastes of audiences in the Telugu-speaking states and North India, where mass entertainers are highly popular. Kerala’s preference for more nuanced storytelling and character development made ‘Pushpa 2’s’ formula less effective in the region. The initial excitement and anticipation for ‘Pushpa 2’ were high, but the film’s inability to meet these lofty standards, particularly in terms of narrative depth and character portrayal, led to a lukewarm reception.
