Shane Nigam’s milestone 25th lead role film, Balti, a Malayalam-Tamil bilingual sports action drama, has successfully defied recent box office trends by exhibiting robust growth over its opening weekend. Released on Friday, September 26, the film initially opened to moderate numbers but gained tremendous traction on Saturday, signaling that positive word-of-mouth (WOM) is actively driving audience footfall across theaters in Kerala.
With Sunday footfall expected to be the highest of the weekend, industry tracking suggests that Balti is firmly on track to cross the ₹3 crore mark in the Kerala state gross collection alone by the end of its first three days. This strong performance positions the Unni Sivalingam directorial as one of the most successful recent releases in the Mollywood market.
Positive Word of Mouth Fuels Balti Day 2 Box Office Surge in Kerala
The initial figures underscore the powerful impact of genuine audience satisfaction. On its opening day (Friday, September 26), Balti earned a commendable ₹85 lakh gross in the Kerala Box Office. However, the true success story unfolded on Saturday (Day 2), where the film witnessed a substantial increase, grossing an estimated ₹1.09 crore.
This significant leap in collections from Day 1 to Day 2 is a crucial indicator of longevity in the theatrical market, proving that viewers are recommending the film to friends and family. The Balti Day 2 box office surge resulted in a combined two-day gross of ₹1.94 crore—just shy of the ₹2 crore milestone—setting a perfect foundation for a massive Sunday. Industry analysts expect the film to post its highest single-day collection yet on September 28, solidifying a spectacular Kerala box office opening.
Shane Nigam’s 25th Film: Analyzing the Balti Total Collection and Weekend Projections
The success of Balti holds special significance as it marks Shane Nigam’s 25th film, a quarter-century milestone in his acting career. Critics and fans have lauded his earnest performance, which anchors the high-stakes narrative involving kabaddi and crime.
Given the solid two-day total and the weekend occupancy trends across major cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode, trade experts project that the Balti total collection will comfortably eclipse ₹3 crore in Kerala by the close of Sunday night. This opening weekend projection solidifies the film's status as a major regional hit and provides strong momentum as the film prepares for its wider release in other South Indian states and international markets in the coming weeks.