Sivakarthikeyan’s much-hyped action thriller Madrasi (also spelled Madharasi) is facing a tough time at the box office. After a decent opening, the film’s collections have sharply declined over the second week, with Monday’s figures raising eyebrows.
On Monday, Madrasi managed to rake in around ₹54 lakh (net) from the Indian box office-a rather modest number considering the buzz surrounding its release. Over its second weekend, the movie had collected approximately ₹7.8 crore, and with a total tally of ₹57.24 crore so far, the film seems to be struggling to sustain audience interest. Industry insiders now believe that the theatrical run could wrap up in just about 10 days.
Typically, Tamil films follow a window of 4 to 5 weeks before making their OTT debut, giving them time to milk the box office collections. Madrasi was expected to hit digital platforms around October 5. But given the current scenario and the upcoming festive season, sources suggest an earlier OTT release could be in the works, possibly targeting the Navaratri weekend starting September 30.
For the record, Madrasi is directed by AR Murugadoss, known for his hit Thuppakki, and features Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role alongside Rukmini Vasanth.
Adding extra punch to the film is Vidyut Jammwal, who returns to Tamil cinema after his intense villain role in Thuppakki. The movie also includes actors like Biju Menon, Monisha Vijay, Vikranth, and Thalaivasal Vijay, adding to its star appeal.
Critics have given Madrasi fairly positive reviews for its action sequences and performances, but that hasn’t translated into sustained footfalls in theaters.
Madrasi OTT Rights
Now, the big question remains-when will the movie be released online? It was earlier reported that Zee5 has acquired the digital rights but some reports claim that Amazon Prime has secured the OTT rights.
Either way, Zee TV already holds the satellite rights.
Tamil films are usually streamed four to five weeks after its theatrical release. In that Madrasi was expected to be out on October 5. But now, it might be out on September 30, targeting the long Navaratri festive weekend.