Mandaadi, starring Tamil comedian turned actor Soori and Telugu actor Suhas, arrived with decent expectations and has now emerged as the clear winner in the clash with Karthi’s Sardar 2. The film is receiving encouraging responses in both Tamil and Telugu, with the positive talk helping its box office momentum.
Interestingly, the Telugu version had very limited promotional activity before the release. Apart from one or two events, the team did not push the film aggressively in the Telugu states. However, the good talk after the first day night shows helped the film pick up and reach more audiences.
A major reason behind the positive response is the quality of filmmaking. The decision to shoot the water action episodes in real sea locations has worked well on the big screen. The climax portions in particular are being appreciated for their visual scale and execution.
There are some complaints about certain portions, but the overall response is largely positive. Soori is getting good appreciation for his performance, while Suhas has also surprised audiences with his negative role. His performance is turning out to be one of the talking points of the film, especially among Telugu audiences.
On the other hand, Sardar 2 started the race with much bigger expectations and Karthi enjoys a strong following in the Telugu states. But the sequel has struggled to convert that craze into positive word of mouth. Mandaadi, which looked like the underdog in this clash, has now taken a comfortable lead. Latest reports put Mandaadi’s worldwide gross at around ₹30 crore by Day 3.
Mandaadi is directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendhi and produced by Elred Kumar under the RS Infotainment banner. GV Prakash Kumar composed the music, while S R Kathir handled the cinematography. The film was released in Telugu by Mythri Movie Distributors.