Vijay Sethupathi thanks Kerala as Baththa crosses Rs 23.20 cr

Vijay Sethupathi has a simple message for Kerala: thank you. As Baththa crossed Rs 23.20 crore in India net collections, the actor took to social media to acknowledge the audience that is keeping the film’s second weekend alive.

“A big thank you to Kerala for showering Baththa with so much love!” he wrote. He added that he wished he could be with the audience and asked them to keep the love and blessings coming.

The second-weekend climb

Directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan, Baththa stars Vijay Sethupathi in the title role, with Sai Prithviraj, Lijomol Jose, Sahasra Shree, Santhy Balachandran and Hari Krishnan in supporting roles. Set largely in the mid-1980s, the film follows a gangster who begins to confront the path he has taken and slowly rediscovers a gentler side.

Sacnilk reports that the film collected Rs 3.10 crore in India net on Sunday, October 11, up 3.7% from Rs 2.99 crore on Saturday. It ran 1,767 shows on its 11th day in theatres.

• First week India net: Rs 15.46 crore
• Friday, October 9: Rs 1.65 crore
• Saturday: Rs 2.99 crore
• Sunday, October 11: Rs 3.10 crore
• 11-day India net: Rs 23.20 crore; domestic gross: Rs 26.81 crore

Why Kerala’s response stands out

For a Tamil film to earn this kind of gratitude and screen count in Kerala is a reminder that strong material travels across language lines. Baththa grew from Rs 1.65 crore on Friday to Rs 3.10 crore on Sunday, which suggests audiences are recommending the film rather than just turning up for the first weekend.

Sunday’s figure was also the highest of the three reported days in the second weekend. That upward movement matters because it shows the film has found a second wind after a Rs 15.46 crore first week. Holding 1,767 shows on day 11 is another signal that exhibitors still see enough demand to keep the film on screens.

ETimes rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and praised Vijay Sethupathi’s lead performance. The review said the film ultimately belongs to child actor Sai Prithviraj, who makes the character’s fears and small victories feel real, and it singled out the song Chellame Magale as the emotional centre.

What to watch from here

The real test is the upcoming weekdays. If Baththa can hold its show count and keep weekday numbers steady, Kerala’s affection could turn a solid second weekend into a longer theatrical run. For now, the film has one of the best things a star can ask for: audiences talking about it.

Source: The Times of India