
Hridayapoorvam vs Lokah Chapter 1 Box Office Day 1: Mohanlal's Family Drama Wins Opening As Kalyani Priyadarshan's Superhero Saga Emerges As Dark Horse
Kochi, August 28 - The Malayalam film industry has its moment, once again, as two of its most-anticipated films - Hridayapoorvam and Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra - open big at the box office during the Onam holiday period, despite clashing against each other on the same day and date. The Mollywood industry normally doesn't indulge in the box office clashes, but to get the advantage of the Onam holidays, superstar Mohanlal's family comedy drama Hridayapoorvam was pitched against Kalyani Priyadarshan's superhero film Lokah, and the gamble seems to have worked as both films open with positive reception and solid openings at the box office. The opening day battle is won by the Mohanlal-starrer, which has scored 3.80 crores gross collection in India and 8.35 crores worldwide. However, the movie got tough competition from Lokah, which looks like going to be a major box office winner. Despite clashing with the Malayalam titan, the first instalment in the filmmaker Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Cinematic Universe has taken a very good start of around 3.15 crores gross in India and over 6.50 crores worldwide. The critics' reviews and audience reception for Lokah are super positive, and seeing the opening day box office trajectory, it is going to rule the opening extended Onam weekend domestically, especially in Kerala. If early signs are anything to go by, the Kalyani Priyadarshan-fronted superhero saga could emerge as a big blockbuster in the long run. Trade experts note that while Hridayapoorvam has secured a bigger opening day tally, the sustainability of Lokah Chapter 1 could shift the momentum as the weekend progresses, as the superhero genre can explode if audience reception is on the positive side. Chandra has the potential to grow stronger in the coming days, much like earlier cult successes in regional cinema. Stay tuned...