Cinema VinesMalayalam star Dulquer Salmaan returned to the big screen with his action thriller I’m Game, which hit theatres on September 3 after a delayed Onam release. The film, directed by Nahas Hidhayath and produced under Wayfarer Films, follows a gambler whose life spirals into chaos after a single incident. Alongside Salmaan, the cast features Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt and Parth Tiwari.
On its opening day, I’m Game earned ₹5.40 crore net across 3,145 screens, translating to a 37% occupancy rate. By the end of the second day, the film’s domestic total stood at ₹10 crore net, a 14.8% drop from the first day, reflecting the mixed reviews it received.
Despite the modest start, the movie’s performance remains comparable to Salmaan’s recent releases. His bilingual Tamil‑Telugu film Kaantha collected ₹9.35 crore in two days, while the Telugu hit Lucky Baskhar amassed ₹13.90 crore in the same span. Salmaan’s 2023 venture King of Kotha also gathered ₹9.45 crore despite lukewarm feedback.
Competition has been fierce. Girish AD’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, opened on August 21 for Onam and has already raked in ₹12.05 crore in two days, eventually crossing ₹108 crore in 15 days. The film’s strong hold at the box office has put pressure on I’m Game to recover momentum over the weekend.
With a release date that clashed with Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, I’m Game was pushed back to September 3. The director, Nahas Hidhayath, co‑wrote the script with Sajeer Baba, Ismail Aboobacker and Bilal Moidu. The story centers on a gambler whose fortunes change dramatically after a pivotal event.
As the weekend approaches, all eyes will be on whether I’m Game can overcome the dip in weekday earnings and secure a stronger box‑office showing amidst stiff competition.
