Madharaasi is a 2025 Tamil-language psychological action thriller film written and directed by A. R. Murugadoss, starring Sivakarthikeyan, Rukmini Vasanth, Vidyut Jammwal, and Biju Menon in lead roles.
Sivakarthikeyan’s much-awaited film of the year was released on September 5, marking his most ambitious project to date. The Madharaasi Budget is reportedly set at ₹75 crores, making it one of the actor’s biggest investments in cinema.
Madharaasi Budget, Hit or Flop, Box Office Collection
| Movie | Madharaasi |
| Cast | Sivakarthikeyan, Rukmini Vasanth, Vidyut Jammwal, Biju Menon |
| Budget | Rs. 75 Crores |
| Theater Count | 2100+ Screens |
| Overall Rating | 2.5/5 |
| Box Office Collection | Rs. 45.2 Crores* |
| Verdict | Average |
Box Office Performance
Madharaasi opened with decent numbers on September 5, 2025, collecting ₹13.2 crores on its opening day, making it Sivakarthikeyan’s second-biggest opening after Amaran. However, the film showed a mixed performance over the weekend, with a total collection of ₹40.55 crores in its first 4 days.
The film performed well in Tamil Nadu but struggled in other language markets. With strong advance bookings initially, the movie witnessed a significant drop of 70% on its fourth day, earning only ₹4.15 crores on Monday. The film is now close to entering the top 10 highest-grossing Tamil films of 2025.
Budget Breakdown
The film is produced by Sri Lakshmi Movies, with the budget set at ₹75 crores. The major budget allocation includes substantial fees for lead actor Sivakarthikeyan, acclaimed director AR Murugadoss, and music director Anirudh Ravichander.
The production house has secured a lucrative deal with ZEE Network for digital streaming rights, significantly improving the film’s pre-release business prospects. The film has already recovered a significant portion of its investment through pre-release business, including satellite rights and distribution agreements across multiple languages.
Box Office Clash: A Competitive September 5th
Madharaasi faced stiff competition at the box office, clashing with Gandhi Kannadi and Bad Girl on September 5, 2025. Gandhi Kannadi, starring KPY Bala and directed by Sherief, presented an action-drama-family entertainer.
While Bad Girl, produced by Vetrimaaran under Grass Root Film Company, is a coming-of-age drama that premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Despite the three-way clash, Madharaasi managed to secure the maximum screens and performed better than its competitors in the opening weekend.
Is Madharaasi Hit or Flop?
Based on the current box office performance, Madharaasi falls into the Average category. With a collection of ₹52.5 crores crores against a budget of ₹75 crores, the film needs to sustain its run to achieve profitability. The movie requires around ₹100-120 crores worldwide to be declared a hit.
The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with praise for Sivakarthikeyan’s performance and AR Murugadoss’s direction, but criticism for the screenplay’s predictability. The psychological thriller elements were appreciated, but the overall execution fell short of meeting the high expectations set by the collaboration.
Current verdict: Average performer with chances of recovery through extended theatrical run and strong OTT performance.
Madharaasi Review Roundup
Critics have delivered mixed to average reviews for Sivakarthikeyan’s psychological action thriller Madharaasi, directed by AR Murugadoss. Here’s what top film review portals are saying:
- Great Andhra: Rated 2.25/5 – “Derails from Midpoint” – praised the first half but criticized the dragged second half
- 123Telugu: Mixed verdict – “Action-packed entertainer that clicks only in parts” – appreciated Sivakarthikeyan’s performance and action sequences but found the second half repetitive
- OneIndia (Haricharan Pudipeddi): Rated 3.75/5 – “A strong comeback for Murugadoss after Darbar and Sikandar” – praised the emotional core and social issue handling
- Koimoi: “Sorry Sivakarthikeyan, This AR Murugadoss Film Can’t Make You A Pan-India Star” – criticized the film for making no sense in most parts
- FilmiBeat: Mixed audience reactions – noted engaging setup with typical ARM style characterization but felt middle portions and romantic thread were dragged
Critical Consensus: Madharaasi receives praise for Sivakarthikeyan’s committed performance, well-choreographed action sequences, and AR Murugadoss’s directorial style in the first half. However, critics unanimously point out issues with the second half’s pacing, predictable screenplay, and dragged romantic portions. The film is being appreciated as a comeback attempt for Murugadoss but falls short of being a complete entertainer.
Average Rating: 2.7/5 across major review portals.
*Box office collections are updated as of September 9, 2025. Final verdict will be determined based on complete theatrical run and overall recovery of investment.
This article will be updated regularly with the latest box office collections and performance analysis as data becomes available.