Only 15–17 profitable films? Malayalam industry split over box-office numbers

A recent claim by the Malayalam Film Producers’ Association that only a handful of films made profits in the past year has triggered a fresh debate within the industry, exposing deep disagreements over box-office data and the definition of a 'hit'

Malayalam film producers recently revealed that only 15 to 17 films released over the past year managed to turn a profit. The statement, made by Producers’ Association president B Rakesh, has sparked controversy after Narivetta director Anuraj Manohar accused the association of lacking transparency in its assessment of box-office figures.

Speaking to Manorama News, Rakesh said that only films such as 'Thudarum,' 'Empuraan,' and 'Lokah' qualified as superhits, while Eko, Rekhachitram, and a few others were classified as hits this year. However, the classification has been questioned within the industry, with many pointing out that 'Thudarum' and 'Lokah' were widely seen as blockbusters, while 'Eko' arguably deserved superhit status.

According to industry tracker Sacnilk.com, films like 'Pet Detective' and 'Prince and Family' earned less in theatres than 'Narivetta.' Despite this, both films were labelled hits by the Producers’ Association, raising further doubts about the evaluation process.

Challenging the criteria used to label films as hits or flops, Anuraj Manohar questioned the lack of consultation with producers. “Our producers were never approached to verify whether the film was a hit or not. The association has simply assumed that our film was a flop without speaking to us. What is the yardstick for these numbers if the producers themselves are not consulted?” Anuraj asked.

Supporting the director, 'Narivetta' producer Tippuushan said the film was made on a modest budget of ₹18 lakh and collected more than ₹18 lakh from theatres alone. “Box-office collections are not the only measure of success,” he said. “The songs and OTT rights were sold at premium rates. While the figures will be disclosed later, those deals were significant.”

The debate has once again highlighted the need for greater transparency and a clear, common benchmark to judge a film’s commercial success. Responding to the criticism, Rakesh told Onmanorama that the association’s assessment was based on theatrical collections as well as other business deals. However, he said the association would not release an official list of collections, respecting producers’ requests for confidentiality.

“We cannot ignore the reality,” Rakesh said. “Most Malayalam films released in 2025 were flops and caused heavy losses. Even those who claim to have broken even need to introspect.”

Meanwhile, Kerala Film Chamber president Anil pointed out that government policies, including entertainment taxes and GST, are also adding to the pressure on the industry.