Mohanlal’s Pulimurugan becomes first Malayalam film to score Rs100 crore

Marathi cinema nearly had its first encounter with the Rs100 crore club earlier this year when Nagraj Popatrao Manjule’s Sairat stunned everyone with its remarkable run at the box office. The film earned around Rs85 crore despite being in a regional language.

But before the year ends, we have another regional film striking gold at the box office and even surpassing the Rs100 crore mark. Pulimurugan has become the first Malayalam film to enter the coveted club and is still going strong.

Directed by Vysakh, the film stars Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead. The story revolves around the titular character, who is an ordinary man with extraordinary characteristics. Pulimurugan earns a living by cutting bamboo from the forest. His line of work also brings him face-to-face with wild animals, including tigers. The film also stars Kamalinee Mukherjee, Jagapati Babu and Lal.

Pulimurugan was released across 200 theatres on 21 October. It amassed Rs4.5 crore on the first day and has consistently earned a daily gross of more than Rs4.2 crore, its second-day collection. The film earned Rs12.9 crore on its first weekend and Rs26 crore in the first week, as per reports. The film also earned a handsome Rs13.8 crore from West Asia, where there is a large population of migrant Malayalam speakers.

Interestingly, Pulimurugan has broken the record of Mohanlal’s own Drishyam (2013). This is the veteran star's third hit this year after Janatha Garage and Oppam.