Cinema VinesOn Monday, September 14, 2026, the Tamil‑language film market saw a dramatic showdown between two high‑profile releases: the spy‑action thriller Sardar 2 and the sports‑action drama Mandaadi. While both titles were eagerly anticipated, the box‑office numbers revealed a clear winner as the day progressed.
Directed by P. S. Mithran, Sardar 2 features Karthi in a dual role alongside Rajisha Vijayan, who reprises her character from the original 2022 film. The sequel also brings in S. J. Suryah, Malavika Mohanan and Ashika Ranganath. In contrast, Mandaadi stars Soori in the lead, with Mahima Nambiar and newcomer Suhas supporting him. The film is written and directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendhi and has generated buzz for its blend of sports and action.
Morning occupancy figures released by Sacnilk showed a stark disparity: Sardar 2 attracted only 12% of the expected audience, while Mandaadi boasted a 38.46% footfall. The difference translated into earnings of ₹1.96 cr from morning shows for Mandaadi compared to a mere ₹24 lakh for Sardar 2.
After a strong opening weekend—₹34.6 cr for Mandaadi and ₹11.57 cr for Sardar 2—the first Monday saw Mandaadi expected to add another ₹7‑8 cr, pushing its total above ₹45 cr. Sardar 2 was projected to bring in only ₹2‑3 cr, bringing its cumulative haul close to ₹15 cr. These figures underscore Mandaadi's dominance over its rival on the first Monday.
The success of Mandaadi has drawn praise from industry peers, including Sivakarthijeyan, who congratulated the film’s team on social media: “Great reports for #Mandaadi 💥💥🔥🔥👏👏👍👍 @sooriofficial annan's hard work, persistence and relentless dedication have truly paid off. Good content always wins big! Congrats, my dear annan, and the entire team, on the blockbuster success.”
