Mohanlal’s Thudarum fails to beat Prithviraj’s The Goat Life and L2: Empuraan on day 1

Malayalam cinema superstar Mohanlal has once again proven his enduring star power with the release of his latest film, Thudarum. The much-anticipated film opened to an impressive Rs 5.5 crore on its first day at the box office, reaffirming Mohanlal’s status as one of the most bankable names in the industry.

Thudarum’s day one numbers managed to comfortably surpass the opening day collections of several recent Malayalam blockbusters. The film outpaced Manujummel Boys, which had taken a solid Rs 3.3 crore on its opening day in 2014, becoming a word-of-mouth sensation soon after. It also bettered the critically acclaimed survival drama 2018, which had opened at Rs 1.71 crore before going on to become one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest hits.
Another notable film that Thudarum left behind was Aavesham, starring Fahadh Faasil, which had posted a commendable Rs 3.65 crore on its first day. Given the strong buzz around Aavesham, Thudarum’s performance was particularly significant, signaling that Mohanlal’s loyal fan following remains unshaken.
However, while Thudarum secured a respectable spot among the year’s top openers, it fell short of challenging the records set by the industry’s biggest titles. Prithviraj’s The Goat Life , a drama that minted Rs 7.6 crore on day 1. Meanwhile, Mohanlal’s own magnum opus, L2: Empuraan, continues to hold the record for the highest opening day in Malayalam cinema with a staggering Rs 21 crore — a number that remains untouched.
Despite not toppling Empuraan or The Goat Life, Thudarum’s opening day performance is a win for both Mohanlal and the Malayalam film industry, reaffirming the audience’s appetite for theatrical experiences. With positive word of mouth starting to build, the film is expected to enjoy a strong weekend, adding another potential hit to Mohanlal’s illustrious filmography.
Mohanlal will be teaming up with Prithviraj once again for the third installment of Lucifer series, in son Pranav Mohanlal will be playing his younger self in the film.