The weekend’s theatrical surge came with a twist: instead of a single mega-blockbuster dominating, a mixture of legacy content, regional powerhouses, and fresh genre fare gave the Indian box office a layered performance.
The re-release of Baahubali: The Epic roared back into cinemas, while the new horror thriller Dies Irae opened strongly and long-running regional giant Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1 maintained impressive legs in its fifth weekend.
Together, these results show a theatrical market still eager for big-screen experiences — one that’s increasingly segmented by genre and region rather than by one dominant national hit.
Weekend Box Office Highlights: Baahubali, Dies Irae and Kantara Lead the Chart
At the top of the chart was Baahubali: The Epic, the remastered version of S. S. Rajamouli’s two-part saga, collecting around ₹23.2 crore over its first three days of re-release. This performance highlights the enduring power of nostalgia-driven event cinema and shows how re-releases can still spark theatrical excitement. Trade estimates place its opening weekend in the ₹22.56–24.35 crore range.
New release Dies Irae followed closely with a strong ₹16.75 crore debut (₹4.7 cr Friday, ₹5.7 cr Saturday, ₹6.35 cr Sunday). The horror-thriller’s performance — with high occupancy in Kerala and metro multiplexes — confirms the growing pull of dark genre cinema.
Meanwhile, Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1 continues its phenomenal run, earning about ₹8.7 crore this weekend. With an India net total now around ₹610.40 crore, it stands as one of the most resilient films of 2025.
Mid-tier titles such as Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat (₹64.40 cr total) and Thamma (crossing ₹120 cr) filled out the charts, showing that well-targeted dramas and romances can still hold ground amid large-scale spectacles.
Regional Box Office Trends: South Cinema and Nostalgia Drive Growth
Regional cinema continues to be the driving force of the Indian theatrical market. Kannada and Telugu releases like Kantara and Thamma underline how regional storytelling has become the most reliable source of footfalls.
Nostalgia-fuelled re-releases are also reshaping exhibitor strategy. The success of Baahubali: The Epic shows how remastered classics, backed by focused campaigns, can revive dormant markets.
Meanwhile, Dies Irae’s opening underlines the strength of Malayalam cinema’s horror-thriller niche — audiences are rewarding immersive stories that leverage sound design, atmosphere, and regional authenticity.
This weekend also reflected a clear behavioural pattern: upward jumps on Saturday and Sunday for strong-word-of-mouth titles, and steadier runs for event re-releases that pull family crowds.
India Box Office Analysis: Market Health and November Outlook
As November begins, the Indian box office appears resilient but segmented. Regional blockbusters and event-based re-releases are driving volume, while Hindi mid-range films rely on word-of-mouth to sustain.
Kantara’s ₹610 crore total illustrates the ceiling for regional hits, while the combined strength of Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat (~₹180 crore) reflects a healthy mid-tier base.
Exhibitors are increasingly adopting diverse strategies: legacy IP re-issues, regional-first expansions, and genre experiments that break from formulaic storytelling.
This mix has helped stabilize footfall across multiplexes and single screens, hinting that India’s theatrical recovery is now built on variety rather than volume alone.
Indian Box Office: De De Pyaar De 2 and Regional Biggies Ahead
The coming two weeks promise renewed activity across Hindi and regional circuits. Leading the lineup is Ajay Devgn’s De De Pyaar De 2, arriving on November 14, a mainstream family entertainer positioned for strong multiplex traction.
A week earlier, Mohanlal’s bilingual epic Vrusshabha opens on November 6, expected to draw South Indian audiences with its mythological and emotional depth. Alongside it, Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi’s Haq (November 7) offers a grounded courtroom drama for the Hindi belt.
Adding romantic flavor to the season, Rashmika Mandanna’s The Girlfriend (November 8) targets youth audiences with its urban love story, while regional titles like Jatadhara continue to expand horror-thriller appeal in South India.
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