The box office journey of “Tu Yaa Main” is proving to be quite different from the survival story it seemed to promise on screen. Featuring Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor, this Bejoy Nambiar film has been experiencing a slow and somewhat disappointing run at the Indian box office, with its collections creeping closer to the Rs 5 crore mark after nine days since its release.
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Join Telegram ChannelOn its second Saturday, “Tu Yaa Main” managed to rake in about Rs 40 lakh, showing a slight uptick from the day before. So far, the second weekend has contributed around Rs 60 lakh to its total, bringing the cumulative India nett collection to roughly Rs 4.85 crore. While Saturday’s growth doubled compared to Friday’s Rs 20 lakh, the overall figures still feel modest for a theatrical release that aimed to attract audiences to cinemas.
The film kicked off with Rs 60 lakh on Friday, followed by a stronger Saturday at Rs 1.50 crore. Sunday brought in Rs 80 lakh, but the drop during the weekdays was quite noticeable. Monday saw Rs 40 lakh, Tuesday around Rs 45 lakh, and Wednesday and Thursday each hovered around Rs 35 lakh. By the end of its first week, “Tu Yaa Main” had wrapped up at Rs 4.25 crore. Unfortunately, the second week hasn’t shown any significant upward trend.
Given the current trajectory, industry expectations suggest that the Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor starrer might wrap up its second weekend somewhere between Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore, with the second week potentially ending around Rs 1.50 crore. If this pace continues, the lifetime box office collection of “Tu Yaa Main” is likely to settle around Rs 7 crore nett in India.
Directed by Bejoy Nambiar, who has made a name for himself with films like Wazir and Taish, Tu Yaa Main is being marketed as a creature-based survival thriller that follows a modern young couple battling a deadly force. The premise certainly piqued interest, especially among urban viewers who appreciate experimental storytelling. However, even though it garnered slightly better audience reactions than its rival release, the film has struggled to generate strong word-of-mouth or box office success.
One major hurdle seems to be the current mindset of audiences. Many now view mid-budget survival thrillers and experimental dramas as content better suited for streaming platforms rather than the big screen. With the rise of OTT services, the number of people heading to theaters for these genres has become increasingly unpredictable, unless the film is backed by big-name stars or aggressive marketing.
Adarsh Gourav, known for his powerful performances, and Shanaya Kapoor, who is steadily making her mark, both delivered heartfelt portrayals. Still, star power remains a vital factor in attracting audiences during the opening weekend, and Tu Yaa Main appears to have missed that mark. In today’s competitive landscape, a strong marketing push often dictates the success of the first three days, and without that explosive start, it becomes tough to recover.
Another topic of discussion sparked by films like Tu Yaa Main is the shrinking theatrical window. With audiences aware that movies often hit OTT platforms within weeks, many choose to wait instead of buying cinema tickets. Trade analysts have frequently pointed out the need for a longer OTT window—possibly extending it to several months—to encourage people to watch films in theaters and help revive the market for small and mid-budget projects.
Currently, Tu Yaa Main is still showing in select cinemas, but the path ahead looks tough. With new releases on the horizon and limited screens available, keeping the momentum going will be a challenge.
