Karuppu Advance Booking: Suriya, Trisha's Film Gaining Momentum Ahead of Release

The advance booking for RJ Balaji's much-anticipated film Karuppu has opened to a decent response nationwide, though early figures reveal a stark divide between Tamil Nadu and the rest of the country.

According to the data released by Sacnilk, the film has grossed close to Rs 1.5 crore from approximately one lakh tickets sold so far. Over 3,600 shows have been listed across the country for the film, which is scheduled to hit screens on May 14.

Tamil Nadu is leading the charge by a significant margin. The state has registered a gross of Rs 1.3 crore from its 2,000 shows, recording a real occupancy of 13%. With 70 shows listed as 'Almost Full' and 111 as 'Filling Fast', the response in the home market has been described by distributors as encouraging.

Kerala and Karnataka have shown tepid but notable interest, with gross collections of Rs 9.89 lakh (587 shows, 4% occupancy) and Rs 9.21 lakh (658 shows, 2% occupancy) respectively. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have underperformed, contributing Rs 3.96 lakh and Rs 1.23 lakh respectively.

Markets outside the South have remained largely cold. Maharashtra recorded just Rs 15,460 from 29 shows, while Gujarat, Goa, and Delhi reported negligible figures, with Delhi managing only Rs 3,270 from three shows.

Karuppu, directed by RJ Balaji who also plays a key role, features Trisha Krishnan as the female lead. The supporting cast includes Indrans, Natty Subramaniam, and Swasika.

In a major boost to the film's opening weekend, newly-elected Chief Minister Vijay has granted permission for special shows during the first two days of release. Single screens will be allowed to hold their first show as early as 9 am.

Industry analysts suggest that while the all-India advance is modest, strong word-of-mouth and the early-morning show window could propel Karuppu to a healthy opening, provided the film resonates with audiences beyond its home state.