Lal Salaam Box Office Collection Day 12, Worldwide Collection, Hit Or Flop & More
Lal Salaam Box Office Collection Day 12: Lal Salaam, the latest Tamil sports action film starring Rajinikanth, Vishnu Vishal, and Vikranth, has completed 12 days of its theatrical run. The film, directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth and produced by Lyca Productions, was released on 9 February 2024 amid high expectations from fans and critics.
However, the film has received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, raising questions about its fate and impact. In this article, we will analyze the box office performance, plot, review, and rating of Lal Salaam and try to answer whether it is a hit or a flop.
Lal Salaam Box Office Performance
According to the latest reports, Lal Salaam has grossed around ₹ 23 crores worldwide in 12 days, which is far below its estimated budget of ₹ 80–90 crores.
The film opened with a decent collection of ₹ 5.36 crores in India on its first day but witnessed a sharp decline in the subsequent days due to negative word of mouth and competition from other releases. The film also failed to impress the overseas audience, especially in the key markets of the USA, UK, and UAE, where it collected only ₹ 2.5 crores in 12 days.
The film’s performance is even more disappointing when compared to Rajinikanth’s previous films, such as Darbar (2020), which grossed ₹ 250 crores worldwide, and Petta (2019), which grossed ₹ 225 crores worldwide.
| Region | Gross Collection (in ₹) |
|---|---|
| India | 0.19 crore |
| USA | 0.03 crore |
| UK | 0.02 crore |
| UAE | 0.01 crore |
| Others | 0.01 crore |
| Total | 0.26 crore |
The reasons for the poor box office performance of Lal Salaam could be attributed to several factors, such as:
- The lack of a strong storyline and screenplay failed to engage the audience and create an emotional connection with the characters.
- The mismatch between the expectations of the audience and the reality of the film, as many fans were disappointed to see Rajinikanth in an extended cameo role, rather than a full-fledged lead role.
- The poor marketing and promotion of the film did not create enough buzz and hype among the potential viewers.
- The negative reviews and ratings from the critics and the audience criticized the film for being clichéd, predictable, preachy, and unrealistic.
- The competition from other films, such as Master (2024), which starred Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi, and was a blockbuster hit, and Uppena (2024), which was a surprise hit, and attracted the family audience.
Plot
The plot of Lal Salaam revolves around two talented and brilliant cricket players, Thirunavukarasu “Thiru” (Vishnu Vishal) and Shamsuddin (Vikranth), who belong to Murarbad, a village where Hindus and Muslims co-exist harmoniously. Despite their religious differences, they are best friends and share a passion for cricket. Thiru’s father, Manickam (Livingston), and Shamsuddin’s father, Mohideen Bhai (Senthil), are also good friends who support their sons’ dreams.
However, their friendship and harmony are threatened by the evil plans of local politicians, who want to incite communal riots in Murarbad for their political gain. One of the politicians’ sons, Raj (Vignesh), exploits Thiru and Shamsuddin’s rivalry under the guise of a cricket match and provokes Thiru to injure Shamsuddin’s right hand, which sparks a serious conflict between the Muslims and Hindus in Murarbad.
Raj also troubles the lower-caste families in the village and confiscates their temple cart, which is used for the annual festival. Thiru is disowned by his family and the villagers for his mistake and faces threats from Mohideen’s men. He escapes and seeks refuge in Bombay, where he meets his mentor, Raja (Rajinikanth), a former cricket player and coach, who guides him to play cricket for the surrounding villages and earn money for the temple cart.
In Bombay, Thiru also saves Shamsuddin from another religious conflict and reconciles with him. Mohideen then decides to forgive Thiru and help him with the temple cart funding. Thiru and Shamsuddin return to Murarbad with the temple cart and unite the villagers. They also challenge Raj and his team to a cricket match, where they defeat them and expose their evil intentions. The film ends with Thiru and Shamsuddin being selected for the state cricket team and Raja being proud of them.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Rajinikanth | Moideen Bhai, Shamsuddin’s father (extended cameo appearance) |
| Vishnu Vishal | Thirunavukarasu “Thiru”, son of Manickam and Rani |
| Vikranth | Shamsuddin “Shamsu”, son of Mohideen Bhai and Fathima |
| Vignesh | Raj |
| Livingston | Manickam, Thiru’s father |
| Senthil | Samikkannu |
| Jeevitha | Rani, Thiru’s mother |
| K. S. Ravikumar | Raja, Thiru’s mentor and former cricket player |
| Thambi Ramaiah | Thiru’s uncle |
| Nirosha | Fathima, Shamsuddin’s mother |
| Kapil Dev | Himself (cameo appearance) |
| Dhanya Balakrishna | Thiru’s love interest |
| Vivek Prasanna | Thiru’s friend |
| Ananthika Sanilkumar | Shamsuddin’s love interest |
| Tiger Thangadurai | Thiru’s friend |
| Jay Parashar | Salim, Shamsuddin’s friend |
| Sivaprakash | Raj’s father and politician |
| Akash Sahani | Junior Artist |
| Sajjadul Ahamed Riyad | Shamsuddin’s friend |
| Tanisa islam Mahi | Shamsuddin’s sister |
| Source | News in Bollywood |
https://t.co/8Fhuv4qZt8#LalSalaam @ash_rajinikanth @arrahman pic.twitter.com/I0sn73oniI
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) November 12, 2023
Review and Rating
Lal Salaam is a film that tries to convey a message of communal harmony and social justice through the medium of cricket. However, it fails to do so effectively and convincingly.
The film suffers from a weak script, which is full of clichés, stereotypes, melodrama, and unrealistic scenarios. The film also lacks originality and freshness, as it borrows heavily from other films, such as Lagaan (2001), and Chak De! India (2007) and Dangal (2016). The film also fails to utilize the star power of Rajinikanth, who appears only in the second half of the film and has a limited role.
The film does not offer any memorable scenes or dialogues for Rajinikanth, who is known for his charisma and style. The film also wastes the talents of Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth, who are capable actors but are reduced to playing one-dimensional characters.
The film also has a weak villain, who is neither menacing nor smart. The film also has poor technical quality, with mediocre cinematography, editing, music, and sound. The film also has a long runtime of 150 minutes, which tests the patience of the audience.
The only positive aspects of the film are the performances of the supporting cast, such as Livingston, Senthil, Jeevitha, K. S. Ravikumar, and Thambi Ramaiah, who provide some comic relief and emotional depth to the film. The film also has some decent cricket scenes, which are well-choreographed and executed. The film also has a noble intention of spreading a social message, which is commendable, but not enough to save the film from being a disaster.
On a scale of 1 to 5, we would rate Lal Salaam as 2, which means that it is a below-average film, which does not live up to the expectations and standards of the audience and the industry. The film is a disappointment for the fans of Rajinikanth, who deserve better from the superstar.
The film is also a setback for the makers, who invested a lot of money and resources in the film. The film is also a loss for the exhibitors and distributors, who will not be able to recover their costs from the film. The film is also a missed opportunity for the actors, who could have showcased their skills and talents in a better film. The film is also a waste of time and money for the viewers, who will not get any entertainment or satisfaction from the film.
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Lal Salaam is a film that could have been a hit if it had a better script, direction, production, and promotion. However, it turned out to be a flop, due to its poor execution and reception. The film may have a chance of becoming a cult classic if it gains some appreciation and following from the niche audience, who may like the film for its message and theme. However, that is a long shot and a rare possibility. For now, Lal Salaam is a film that is best forgotten and ignored.
