Dulquer Salmaan’s return to Malayalam cinema has started on a reasonably positive note. His latest release, I’m Game, opened in theatres on September 3 and reportedly earned ₹5.05 crore across India on its first day.
Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, the action thriller has generated interest among Dulquer’s fans, although the opening numbers have fallen below some expectations surrounding the actor’s Malayalam comeback.
Interestingly, the film has still managed to record a higher single-day collection than Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown Ups during its ninth day in theatres.
I’m Game Opening Day Collection
According to figures reported by Sacnilk, I’m Game collected approximately ₹5.05 crore on Thursday.
The Malayalam version was responsible for the bulk of the earnings, contributing around ₹4.30 crore. The Telugu version added roughly ₹65 lakh, while the Hindi version contributed approximately ₹10 lakh.
The film was screened across 2,714 shows and recorded an estimated 44% overall occupancy in India.
The opening suggests that there is considerable interest in Dulquer’s return to Malayalam cinema, but the film will need strong numbers over the weekend to establish itself as a major theatrical success.
Not Dulquer’s Biggest Malayalam Opening
Despite opening above the ₹5 crore mark, I’m Game has not managed to surpass the first-day performance of King of Kotha.
Dulquer’s 2023 Malayalam film reportedly collected ₹6.85 crore on its opening day, putting it ahead of I’m Game.
The new release has nevertheless secured a place among the actor’s better opening films. Lucky Baskhar remains ahead with an opening-day collection of around ₹7.35 crore, while Kurup recorded approximately ₹5.60 crore.
I’m Game Surpasses Toxic‘s Day 9 Collection
One interesting comparison has emerged from the latest box-office figures.
Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown Ups reportedly earned around ₹4 crore on its ninth day. In comparison, I’m Game brought in ₹5.05 crore on its opening day.
While this gives Dulquer’s film an advantage in the single-day comparison, the two numbers represent different stages of their theatrical runs and therefore cannot be treated as a direct measure of overall success.
Audience Response Remains Mixed
The box office will ultimately depend on how audiences respond to the film during the weekend.
Initial reactions to I’m Game have been divided. Some viewers have appreciated the film’s first half and its action-driven narrative, while criticism has been directed towards the second half, particularly its writing and execution.
Positive word-of-mouth could help the film maintain its momentum, while mixed reactions could make it difficult to sustain the opening-day pace.
Cast and Story of I’m Game
I’m Game features Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role and also stars Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt and Parth Tiwari.
The story centres on a gambler whose circumstances take an unexpected turn, pushing him into a challenging phase of his life.
Nahas Hidhayath has directed the film, with the screenplay credited to Hidhayath along with Sajeer Baba, Ismail Aboobacker and Bilal Moidu.
The movie has been produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under Wayfarer Films.
What’s Next for the Film?
I’m Game was originally planned for an Onam release but was subsequently postponed. It finally reached cinemas on September 3.
With the weekend now underway, the film’s Saturday and Sunday numbers will be crucial. A significant jump in collections could indicate strong audience interest and give Dulquer’s comeback film a longer theatrical run.
For now, I’m Game has made a ₹5.05 crore opening, giving it a solid starting point while leaving plenty of room for growth in the days ahead.
