Suriya’s highly-anticipated pan-India film Kanguva has hit a major roadblock at the box office, with collections plummeting on its second Friday. After opening to decent numbers, the film has struggled to maintain momentum due to largely negative reviews and underwhelming word of mouth.
Box Office Performance
Opening Day: ₹24 crore in India.
First Friday: ₹9 crore, bringing the total India collection to ₹33 crore (as per Sacnilk).
Worldwide Total: ₹40 crore so far, falling far short of expectations.
Criticisms and Viewer Feedback
Kanguva, directed by Siva, has been criticized for its weak script and inconsistent screenplay, which many viewers found disengaging.
Other issues highlighted include:
1. Excessive Sound Levels:
Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty criticized the film for its overwhelming loudness in dialogue and background music. On Instagram, he expressed frustration over the “loudness war” in Indian films, which leaves audiences with “headaches” rather than a memorable experience.
2. Underutilization of Key Characters:
Fans of Bobby Deol were disappointed by the limited screen time for his role, which was seen as underdeveloped.
3. Mixed Reception to the Plot:
While Suriya’s dual performance as Kanguva and Francis Theodore was praised, the ambitious dual-timeline narrative spanning 1070 and 2024 failed to resonate with audiences.
Production and Release
With a reported budget of ₹350 crore, Kanguva was released globally on November 14 in standard, 3D, and IMAX formats. Despite its visual grandeur and technical excellence, the film has received a lukewarm response, with an IMDb rating of 5.2/10.
Cast and Saving Graces
Starring Suriya, the film features Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, and others in pivotal roles.
Karthi’s dual cameo roles added excitement but were not enough to salvage the film’s overall impact.
Suriya’s performance remains a bright spot, with fans lauding his dedication to the roles of Kanguva and Francis Theodore.
Outlook
The film’s future looks uncertain as it struggles to attract repeat audiences or recover its massive production cost. For a movie of this scale, a stronger script and balanced execution were critical, but Kanguva failed to meet expectations on both fronts.
