Kajol’s Triumphant Return: “Maa” Dominates Box Office
Kajol, a name synonymous with captivating performances, appears to have orchestrated arguably the most impressive opening weekend of her illustrious career as a solo lead. Her latest venture, Vishal Furia’s mythological horror film *Maa*, has not only captivated audiences but also made a significant splash at the domestic box office. This performance marks a stark contrast to her previous theatrical outing, Revathy’s 2022 relationship drama *Salaam Venky*, which saw only modest single-digit earnings throughout its entire run.
“Maa” Box Office Surge: Day-by-Day Breakdown
The weekend saw *Maa* steadily climb, culminating in a strong Sunday collection. On its third day, the film garnered an impressive Rs 6.75 crore. This figure represented a notable uptick from its Saturday earnings of Rs 6 crore, which itself had seen a healthy jump from the opening day’s collection of Rs 4.65 crore. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the cumulative opening weekend earnings for *Maa* in India now stand at a formidable Rs 17.40 crore.
Surpassing Expectations: “Maa” Overtakes 2024 Bollywood Releases
This stellar box office performance has cemented *Maa*’s position, not just as the highest-grossing solo film of Kajol’s career, but also as a stronger contender than several other Hindi releases from this year. The film has impressively left behind the horror-comedy *The Bhootnii*, starring Sanjay Dutt (which collected Rs 12.52 crore), the gripping thriller *Crazxy* featuring Sohum Shah (Rs 14.03 crore), the romantic comedy *Mere Husband Ki Biwi* with Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar (Rs 12.25 crore), and even Himesh Reshammiya’s musical action flick *Badass Ravikumar* (Rs 13.78 crore).
The Next Benchmarks: Chasing “Fateh” and “Emergency”
With its current momentum, *Maa* sets its sights on new targets. The film is now poised to challenge the collections of Sonu Sood’s directorial debut *Fateh*, which grossed Rs 18.87 crore, and Kangana Ranaut’s period political drama *Emergency*, which stands at Rs 20.48 crore. Should *Maa* manage to surpass *Emergency*, it would achieve the remarkable feat of becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film led by a female actor this year, a significant achievement for Kajol and the production team.
From “Shaitaan” to “Maa”: A Connected Cinematic Universe
Interestingly, *Maa* emerges from the same creative universe as Vikas Bahl’s highly successful supernatural thriller *Shaitaan* from last year, a film that featured Ajay Devgn, Jyothika, and R Madhavan. Adding to the family affair, *Maa* is produced by Kajol’s husband, Ajay Devgn, and also stars veteran actor Ronit Roy in a pivotal role. Devgn’s involvement extends beyond production, as he also helmed several action sequences, including the film’s climactic moments, bringing his signature flair to the mythological horror genre.
Clash of Titans: “Maa” vs. “Sitaare Zameen Par”
Despite its impressive run, *Maa* faces formidable competition from a holdover release: RS Prasanna’s poignant coming-of-age sports comedy *Sitaare Zameen Par*. This spiritual sequel to Aamir Khan’s beloved 2007 directorial debut *Taare Zameen Par*, also backed by Aamir Khan Productions, features Khan himself alongside Genelia D’Souza and others. After a strong 10-day run at the domestic box office, *Sitaare Zameen Par* has already amassed an astounding Rs 122.65 crore.
“Sitaare Zameen Par” and the Bigger Picture of 2024 Hits
*Sitaare Zameen Par*’s remarkable performance brings it tantalizingly close to surpassing the lifetime domestic earnings of AR Murugadoss’ action-packed *Sikandar*, starring Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, which concluded its run at Rs 129.95 crore earlier this year. Furthermore, Aamir Khan’s film is also inching towards Akshay Kumar’s *Sky Force*, which secured Rs 134.93 crore domestically. However, both films still have significant ground to cover to catch up with Kumar’s other massive hit from this year, Tarun Mansukhani’s whodunit comedy *Housefull 5*, currently standing strong at Rs 195.09 crore and on the cusp of entering the coveted Rs 200 crore club.
New Challengers: “Metro… In Dino” Enters the Arena
The box office landscape is set for further shifts this coming Friday as both *Maa* and *Sitaare Zameen Par* prepare for fresh competition. Anurag Basu’s much-anticipated romantic anthology *Metro… In Dino* is slated for release, boasting an ensemble cast that includes Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, and Neena Gupta. This new arrival promises to stir the pot and add another exciting dimension to the ongoing cinematic race.
