Kerala Box Office 2014 – Through The Months

Around 10 straight films released and 90% of them just had a visit and go in theatres. It was 1983, the films based on cricket whichshowed some respect to the audience and vice versa. Among the biggest flops it was Dulquer Salmaan‘s ‘Salalah Mobiles‘ which after a superb opening collapsed all together. The much talked about sequel to ‘Mannar Mathai‘ murdered the classic brand.

HITS
1.1983
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Salalah Mobiles
2. Mannar Mathai Speaking 2

When 10 films hit theatres on January, it came on to 17 this month and the speciality was most of the big stars participated this time. Finally it was time for Prithviraj’s long in the making London Bridge to hit theatres after so many delays and one wished it to remain delayed lifelong after watching it. It was also a short stop to Prithviraj’s dream run from Ayaalum Njanum Thammil. Same was the case with Mammootty‘s Balyakalasakhi, which didn’t do any benefit to the great actor. Neither it pleased the audience, nor it won critical words. Financially a big loser too. Now it was time for another big canvas film Salaam Kashmir which also remained in can for many months even after the production just because of financial issues. Suresh Gopi, Jayaram and Joshi trio earned only bad marks for this one, huge loser. But Jayaram had his Swapaanam this month and it helped him receive some praises from many. Boban Samuel, who was on a hatrick after Janapriyan and Romans had his first flop this month in the form of ‘Happy Journey‘. In between, the ‘trendsetter’ Santhosh Pandit tried his hand once again with ‘Minimolude Achchan’ and fortunately many didn’t even know about it. When all the movies disappointed again it was time for another Nivin Pauly starred film to set the box office ringing and this time it was ‘Ohm Shanti Oshana‘. Fairly we should say a Nazriya Nazim starrer for this one as she was the main lead. A true blockbuster in box office.

BLOCKBUSTER
1. Ohm Shanthi Oshana
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Balyakalasakhi
2. London Bridge
3. Salaam Kashmir

SPECIAL MENTION
1. Swapaanam

13 Straight releases. Another month and it was time for another Mammootty starrer. It was Praise The Lord which, not only bombed at the box office also but also got the tag on one of his worst ever films. None of the other films had face value rather than ‘Hangover‘ and ‘Konthayum Poonoolum‘ both doing the usual thing, ‘nothing’. Yes you read it right, forget about hits, not even a single average performer.

NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Hangover
2. Konthayum Poonoolum
3. Praise The Lord.

10 releases. Vishu season is here and its time for some big stars. Biggest release of the season or even the year, Mammootty’s Gangster ‘hits’ the theatre and the audience at a time. After a mammoth opening it became one of the forgettable events for Mammootty and his fans. Prithviraj came back into box office with his 7th Day which attracted youth and the result was a Super Hit. Vishnu season is incomplete with the darling of families, Dileep. Ringmaster was the film and it came on to become one of the biggest grossers of the years, but its huge budget limited the range of success. Dulquer Salmaan for the first time in his career had 3 back to back flops [others being Pattam Pole and Salalah Mobiles] ,as his bilingual ‘Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram‘ bit the dust here [ It is to be noted that the Tamil version, Vaaya Moodi Pesavum was a hit in TN].

SUPER HITS
1. Ringmaster
2. 7th Day
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Gangster
2. Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram
3. Paulytechnic
4. 1 by 2

After a decent month of April then came the best of 2014 for Malayalam Cinema. Around 16 releases was there with Mohanlal returning after his Industry hit ‘Drishyam‘ and Manju Warrier returning to big screen itself after a hiatus. Mr. Fraud opened impressively in the box office but didn’t show that after the weekend or a decent 1st week. But it crashed on the Drishyam success for the satellite rates and others somehow managing to break-even for the makers. ‘How Old Are You‘ , on the other hand had a brilliant run at the box office and became one of the biggest grosser and earner of the year. Now it was time for the annual winner ‘Bangalore Days‘ which shattered many records before finally settling as the All time second biggest grosser. Nivin Pauly definitely took the biggest pie of the year with one more film involving him touched the sky and now it was time for current youth icon Dulquer’s comeback who was desperate for a success. If Bangalore Days grossed as big as it, biggest contribution is undoubtedly from Dulquer’s reach among the audience. Anjali Menon proved she not only knows how to make meaningful cinemas, but also to bring the right formula.

BLOCKBUSTER
1. Bangalore days
SUPER HITS
1. How Old Are You.
BREAK EVEN
1. Mr. Fraud
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Last Supper
2. Ulsaha Committee
3. Mosayile Kuthirameenukal
4. Law Point

Again 16 films but the results changes. A Superstar in team, a hit writer-director combo, and a decent casting, ‘Koothara‘ got the appreciations to the makers for being true to their title. The same can be said about the box office performance, a big lose for the makers. One wondered how Mohanlal agreed for this movie which made the audience laugh at him for the weird avatar in climax. The only film to sustain a bit in June was Anoop Menon, Bhavana starer ‘Angry Babies In Love’. A break-even for its makers.
BREAK EVEN
1. Angry Babies In Love
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Koothara
2. Naaku Penta Naaku Taka
3. Beware Of Dog’s

As it was Ramzan fasting period the number of films released were just 9 and big ones aiming only the Eid weekend which came in the last week. Vikramadithyan became a Super Hit and Dulquer Salmaan continued his crowd puller status with the help of Lal Jose and finally it was a month of relief for his father Mammootty also. The Megastar who was counting the flops from last Christmas finally got a break-even in the form of Manglish. Still his wait for a Hit continuous.
SUPER HITS
1. Vikramadithyan
BREAK EVEN
1. Manglish
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Hi I’m Tony

Again a total of 9 films got released. Apothecary, which didn’t perform much in box office got appreciations as one of the best films of the year for its sensitive subject and performances. It was the month of Mammootty’s comeback as an ‘Actor’ in the form of Munnariyippu which not only became one of the best films in Malayalam, but also performed decently in box office. Now it was time for another biggie, ‘Peruchazhi‘ to hit theatres with all potential to become another blockbuster. But the mediocre content didn’t give much chance for the movie which took a superb opening followed by decent trending during the Onam season. But the huge satellite rights and the brand associations helped the producers to get back their investments if not much profit.
BREAK EVENS
1. Munnariyippu
2. Peruchazhi
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Avatharam
2. Njan Steve Lopez
SPECIAL MENTION
1. Apothecary

Around 11 films released and a one of the better months for the industry which also had Onam season. Prithviraj continued his smooth run with SapthamaShree Thaskaraha: and this time around Asif Ali also joined who was desperate for a Hit. The biggest draw of festive season’s Dileep finally lost his strong hold with his Onam release Villali Veeran biting the dust. In fact this was his second consecutive flop after previous months ‘Avatharam’. The minimum guarantee combo of Kunchako Boban and Biju Menon failed this time around as they ‘Bhaiyya Bhaiyya‘ had no takers. Mammootty, who had a small relief with his last two movies finally registered a Hit in his name with Rajadhi Raja. When the month was about to end, then came the biggest surprise of the year. Vellimoonga, is the film we are talking about. It became a runaway hit without any face value of hype. Dulquer Salmaan’s Ranjith directed ‘Njan’ got few appreciations though was a non- performer in box office
BLOCKBUSTER
1. Vellimoonga
SUPER HIT
1. SapthamaShree Thaskaraha:
HIT
1. Rajadhi Raja
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Villali Veeran
2. Bhaiyya Bhaiyya
SPECIAL MENTION
1. Njaan

A number of small films Onam releases to settle down and around 17 films came in October. Prithviraj again had a speed-breaker with ‘Tamaar Padaar‘, which was a quick washout. Among other releases Ithihasa, a small film succeeded to attract the going audience for the unique plot and whacky fun. Homely meals, another film got decent reviews but in box office remained silent.
HIT
1. Ithihasa
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Tamaar Padaar
2. Njangalude Veettile Athidhikal

Another month with plenty of releases, around 15 films. Mammootty once again got a Hit and it was ‘Varsham‘, which got likings from family audience, completing the 50 days mark last week. Amal Neerad- Fahadh teams Iyobinte Pusthakam got rave reviews from many sides, but the huge budget and poor performance outside cities didn’t help in the box office. Less can be talked about Suresh Gopi’s Dolphins, Jayaram- Asif Ali teams Mylanchi Monjulla Veedu, and Vinayans 3D outing Little Superman.
HIT
1. Varsham
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Iyobinte Pusthakam
2. The Dolphins
3. Mylanchi Monjulla Veedu
4. Little Superman 3D

Finally the last month of 2014 and only 7 films got released even though Christmas season went through. This is the least released months and that those released also sank without a trace. Jayasurya had his 5th release in less than 2 months time and none of them sustained in box office. The much awaited mega budget outing from Vyshakh, ‘Cousins’ is the only film which to at least an average opening, but that can’t stop it from becoming one of the biggest loss incurred ventures of the year. Priyadarshan’s Aamayum Muyalum, Sreenivasan’s ‘Nagaravaaridhi Naduvil Njan’ its helped the audience to remain in their houses and celebrate Christmas. In short it became one of the worst Xmas season’s for Malayalam industry.
NOTABLE FLOPS
1. Cousin’s
2. Aamayum Muyalum
3. Nagaravaaridhi Naduvil Njan