Cinema VinesDulquer Salmaan’s highly anticipated Malayalam comeback, I’m Game, has underperformed at the box office, falling short of the ₹1 crore threshold on its seventh day of theatrical run. The fantasy action thriller, directed by Nahas Hidhayath—known for RDX—was released on September 3 after a postponed Onam launch that had it clashing with Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa: The Ruler and Nivin Pauly’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Despite the star power and a solo release, the film struggled to resonate with audiences.
On opening day, I’m Game collected ₹5.40 crore, placing it among Dulquer’s top five opening figures. The first weekend saw a steady pace, but the mixed reception began to dent collections from Monday onward. The film earned only ₹1.50 crore on that day—a sharp decline from weekend numbers— and the downward trend continued throughout the week.
By the seventh day, the first Wednesday after release, the film’s earnings dipped to just ₹0.92 crore, bringing its total net collection in India to ₹22.54 crore. While this figure surpasses the domestic haul of Dulquer’s previous Malayalam outing, King of Kotha, it remains far below the ₹133 crore net earned by Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, highlighting a significant gap between the two releases.
The storyline follows Dan John, a gambling enthusiast whose penchant for high‑risk situations spirals into a chain of revenge, conflict, and unexpected challenges. The cast includes Antony Varghese, Kayadu Lohar, Mysskin, Samyuktha Viswanathan, and Vinay Forrt, with music composed by Jakes Bejoy. Despite the production backing from Dulquer and Jom Varghese under Wayfarer Films, the film has struggled to sustain its theatrical run.
In summary, I’m Game opened strongly but failed to maintain momentum, ultimately delivering a modest return that, while better than King of Kotha, falls short of the benchmarks set by contemporaries such as Bethlehem Kudumba Unit.
