Vaazha 2 is fifth Malayalam film to enter Rs 200-crore club. Here are the other 4
With Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys crossing Rs 200 crore, Malayalam cinema now has five films in the elite club. From survival dramas to mass entertainers, here's a look at the industry's biggest box office hits.
Riding on strong word of mouth and consistent footfall, the Malayalam film, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys, has emerged as a blockbuster at the box office. Directed by Savin SA, the coming-of-age comedy drama, which released on April 2, scripted history over the weekend by crossing the Rs 200-crore mark worldwide within just 17 days of its theatrical run.
The milestone, officially announced by the makers on Sunday, places the film among the fastest Malayalam releases to enter the coveted club, driven by strong repeat value in Kerala and solid overseas performance, particularly in the Gulf market. With this, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys has become the fifth Malayalam film to breach the Rs 200-crore mark and currently stands as the fifth highest-grossing film in the industry.
Vaazha 2’s box office performance
In its 19-day theatrical run, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys has grossed an impressive Rs 209 crore worldwide, with a nett (gross minus taxes) India collection of Rs 109 crore and Rs 83 crore coming from overseas markets. After a highly successful run in Malayalam, the film is now gearing up for its Telugu release on April 24. Backed by strong content, relatability and glowing word of mouth, the film is expected to perform well in the Telugu market too – potentially even challenging to overtake the collections of other Malayalam films in the Rs 200-crore club.
Other Malayalam films in 200-crore club
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (August 28, 2025)
Topping the list as the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra raked in a massive Rs 303 crore worldwide, including Rs 157 crore nett in India and Rs 119 crore from overseas markets. Starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen in the lead, the film marked a major cinematic milestone with its ambitious scale and storytelling. Directed by Dominic Arun, it served as a perfect launchpad for the Lokah cinematic universe, setting the benchmark for future films and emerging as the one to beat at the box office.
L2: Empuraan (March 27, 2025)
Starring Mohanlal, L2: Empuraan emerged as one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest commercial successes, grossing over Rs 266 crore worldwide and collecting Rs 106 crore nett in India and a massive Rs 142 crore from overseas markets. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the sequel to Lucifer expanded the scale of the franchise with a more ambitious narrative and international backdrop.
The film recorded strong numbers both domestically and overseas, driven by massive pre-release hype and a solid theatrical performance. The film briefly emerged as the highest-grossing Malayalam film, overtaking Manjummel Boys at the top spot in 2025. However, its reign was short-lived, as Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra surpassed its total within a few months.
Manjummel Boys (February 22, 2024)
Written and directed by Chidambaram, Manjummel Boys featured an ensemble cast led by Soubin Shahir, who also co-produced the film. Based on a real-life incident that took place in the Guna Caves in 2006, the survival drama struck a chord with audiences across the country. The film went on to collect Rs 241 crore worldwide, including Rs 142 crore nett in India and Rs 73 crore from overseas markets. During its theatrical run, Manjummel Boys became a nationwide talking point, bringing significant attention to Malayalam cinema and emerging as one of its most defining box office successes.
Thudarum (April 25, 2025)
Another Mohanlal starrer, Thudarum released with minimal pre-release buzz but went on to explode at the box office after positive word of mouth kicked in. Reuniting Mohanlal with Shobana on screen, the film clicked with audiences as a well-written mass entertainer. It went on to collect Rs 235 crore worldwide, including Rs 122 crore nett in India and Rs 94 crore from overseas markets. With this, Mohanlal delivered two Rs 200 crore films consecutively within a gap of just one month, underlining his continued box office dominance.
(All box office figures are taken from Sacnilk.com)
With Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys already delivering a stellar box office run, its journey seems far from over. The film’s growing popularity, driven by relatable storytelling and strong word of mouth, has set the stage for an even bigger push with its Telugu release. More importantly, it signals how content-driven Malayalam films are increasingly finding acceptance across the country, with Vaazha 2 well on track to strengthen that trend further.
Riding on strong word of mouth and consistent footfall, the Malayalam film, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys, has emerged as a blockbuster at the box office. Directed by Savin SA, the coming-of-age comedy drama, which released on April 2, scripted history over the weekend by crossing the Rs 200-crore mark worldwide within just 17 days of its theatrical run.
The milestone, officially announced by the makers on Sunday, places the film among the fastest Malayalam releases to enter the coveted club, driven by strong repeat value in Kerala and solid overseas performance, particularly in the Gulf market. With this, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys has become the fifth Malayalam film to breach the Rs 200-crore mark and currently stands as the fifth highest-grossing film in the industry.
Vaazha 2’s box office performance
In its 19-day theatrical run, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys has grossed an impressive Rs 209 crore worldwide, with a nett (gross minus taxes) India collection of Rs 109 crore and Rs 83 crore coming from overseas markets. After a highly successful run in Malayalam, the film is now gearing up for its Telugu release on April 24. Backed by strong content, relatability and glowing word of mouth, the film is expected to perform well in the Telugu market too – potentially even challenging to overtake the collections of other Malayalam films in the Rs 200-crore club.
Other Malayalam films in 200-crore club
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (August 28, 2025)
Topping the list as the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra raked in a massive Rs 303 crore worldwide, including Rs 157 crore nett in India and Rs 119 crore from overseas markets. Starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen in the lead, the film marked a major cinematic milestone with its ambitious scale and storytelling. Directed by Dominic Arun, it served as a perfect launchpad for the Lokah cinematic universe, setting the benchmark for future films and emerging as the one to beat at the box office.
L2: Empuraan (March 27, 2025)
Starring Mohanlal, L2: Empuraan emerged as one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest commercial successes, grossing over Rs 266 crore worldwide and collecting Rs 106 crore nett in India and a massive Rs 142 crore from overseas markets. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the sequel to Lucifer expanded the scale of the franchise with a more ambitious narrative and international backdrop.
The film recorded strong numbers both domestically and overseas, driven by massive pre-release hype and a solid theatrical performance. The film briefly emerged as the highest-grossing Malayalam film, overtaking Manjummel Boys at the top spot in 2025. However, its reign was short-lived, as Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra surpassed its total within a few months.
Manjummel Boys (February 22, 2024)
Written and directed by Chidambaram, Manjummel Boys featured an ensemble cast led by Soubin Shahir, who also co-produced the film. Based on a real-life incident that took place in the Guna Caves in 2006, the survival drama struck a chord with audiences across the country. The film went on to collect Rs 241 crore worldwide, including Rs 142 crore nett in India and Rs 73 crore from overseas markets. During its theatrical run, Manjummel Boys became a nationwide talking point, bringing significant attention to Malayalam cinema and emerging as one of its most defining box office successes.
Thudarum (April 25, 2025)
Another Mohanlal starrer, Thudarum released with minimal pre-release buzz but went on to explode at the box office after positive word of mouth kicked in. Reuniting Mohanlal with Shobana on screen, the film clicked with audiences as a well-written mass entertainer. It went on to collect Rs 235 crore worldwide, including Rs 122 crore nett in India and Rs 94 crore from overseas markets. With this, Mohanlal delivered two Rs 200 crore films consecutively within a gap of just one month, underlining his continued box office dominance.
(All box office figures are taken from Sacnilk.com)
With Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Boys already delivering a stellar box office run, its journey seems far from over. The film’s growing popularity, driven by relatable storytelling and strong word of mouth, has set the stage for an even bigger push with its Telugu release. More importantly, it signals how content-driven Malayalam films are increasingly finding acceptance across the country, with Vaazha 2 well on track to strengthen that trend further.
