Dulquer Salmaan's Kaantha created a strong buzz in Tamil cinema circles ahead of its release.
What's Happening
- Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, the Tamil-language thriller features Dulquer as the enigmatic TKM, alongside Bhagyashri Borse and Rana Daggubati in important roles.
- Kaantha collected Rs 4.35 crore on its opening day, with the Telugu dubbed version contributing Rs 1.7 crore and the Tamil belt adding Rs 2.65 crore, according to Sacnilk.
- On its second day, the film earned Rs 4.85 crore, bringing its two-day total to Rs 9.20 crore.
- On Saturday, November 15, 2025, the film registered an overall Tamil occupancy of 27.37%, with the highest turnout in night shows at 41.15%, followed by 27.23% in the afternoon and 25.31% in the evening.
Background
Featuring Dulquer Salmaan, Samuthirakani, Bhagyashri Borse, and Rana Daggubati, the 2025 Tamil-language period drama was initially rumoured to be inspired by the life of M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, though the makers later confirmed it is a fictional work.
The film is co-produced by Rana Daggubati and Dulquer Salmaan under Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films.
Set in Madras in the 1950s, Kaantha follows Ayya, a renowned Tamil filmmaker, and his tense relationship with actor TK Mahadevan, whose fame he helped establish.
The conflict escalates when Mahadevan changes the title of a women-centric performance from Shaantha to Kaantha to enhance his public image, eventually leading to a murder investigation involving Mahadevan, Ayya, or Kumari.
