Diwali 2025 witnessed a box office showdown that defied all expectations. What initially seemed like a clash between established stars ultimately became a celebration of fresh talent and engaging content, leaving industry analysts and moviegoers pleasantly surprised.
The pre-Diwali buzz centered around two major releases: "Thamma," a horror-comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, and "Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat," a romantic drama featuring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa. "Thamma," in particular, was highly anticipated as the first origin story in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) and carried a hefty budget of ₹145 crore, signaling the industry's confidence in content-driven blockbusters. Many expected Khurrana, known for his quirky and family-friendly films, to dominate the box office.
However, South Indian cinema presented an unexpected twist. Instead of the usual star-studded spectacles, the Tamil and Telugu film industries opted for a slate of movies featuring next-gen stars. In Tamil, Pradeep Ranganathan's "Dude," Dhruv Vikram's "Bison Kaalamaadan," and Harish Kalyan's "Diesel" competed for audience attention. Telugu cinema saw a similar clash with Siddhu Jonnalagadda's "Telusu Kada," Priyadarshi's "Mithra Mandali," and Kiran Abbavaram's "K-Ramp".
As the Diwali weekend unfolded, it became clear that "Dude," a youthful entertainer in Pradeep Ranganathan's signature style, was connecting with audiences in a big way. The film, also featuring Tovino Thomas and Mamitha Baiju, grossed ₹9.75 crore on day 1, ₹10.4 crore on day 2, ₹10.6 crore on day 3 and ₹10.8 crore on day 4. By the end of the four-day weekend, "Dude" emerged as the clear winner, nearing ₹100 crore worldwide. In North America, "Dude" performed better than the other three Telugu films, collecting around $330,000. By October 23, 2025, "Dude" had grossed ₹54.05 crore and was declared a hit.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Vikram's "Bison Kaalamaadan," a dark action drama, also garnered positive word-of-mouth and proved to be a surprise hit. "Bison Kaalamaadan" earned ₹3 crore on its opening day. By October 23, 2025, the film had grossed over ₹35 crore worldwide and was deemed profitable.
In contrast, "Diesel" struggled to make a mark, earning a worldwide collection of around ₹30 lakh. "Telusu Kada," despite starring established actors, failed to draw crowds, collecting only ₹7.85 crore against a large budget of ₹45 crore. "K-Ramp" also struggled to recover costs.
In Bollywood, "Thamma" is projected to surpass ₹20 crore on its opening day.
The final result of this Diwali box office clash highlighted a significant shift in audience preferences. While star power still holds sway, compelling content and fresh faces are increasingly becoming key drivers of success. "Dude's" impressive performance, in particular, demonstrated the audience's willingness to embrace youthful cinema and unique storytelling. The success of "Bison Kaalamaadan" further reinforced this trend, proving that a strong narrative and positive word-of-mouth can propel a film to profitability. This Diwali season served as a reminder that in the ever-evolving world of cinema, the underdog can emerge as the ultimate champion, leaving everyone pleasantly shocked and eagerly anticipating the next box office battle.
