Director Mani Ratnam
· Cast Arya, Tulsi, Gautham Karthik
· Released Feb 1, 2013
Worldwide
₹25 Cr India nett
Gross collection
India Nett
₹25 Cr
After GST
Overseas
₹₹20 Cr
International gross
Budget
₹90 Cr
Production cost
Boxoffy VerdictDisaster
Kadal ended as a Disaster at the Indian box office — the most severe verdict in the Boxoffy classification system. With ₹25 Cr India nett, the film recovered only a fraction of its investment, it represents a significant financial loss for producers and distributors. A Disaster verdict typically results from a combination of poor opening, rapid weekday collapse, and minimal word-of-mouth — leaving little room for OTT or satellite rights to compensate.
Financial AnalysisBox Office vs Budget
Kadal was reportedly made on a budget of ₹90 Cr. Against that investment, the film collected ₹25 Cr India nett — a 0.3x multiple on production cost and a 28% return on the reported budget. Worldwide gross reached ₹25 Cr, including overseas contribution of ₹-4.5 Cr.
Break-even at the Indian box office typically requires approximately 1.5x the production budget once prints, advertising and distribution costs are factored in — placing the break-even threshold for Kadal at roughly ₹135 Cr India nett. The film fell short of this threshold, resulting in the Disaster verdict.
₹0Break-even ~₹135 Cr₹25 Cr collected
The 2013 Box OfficeYear in Context
Dhoom 3 crossed ₹260 Cr — a number that felt impossible for Hindi cinema. Chennai Express was mass commercial cinema at its absolute loudest and most profitable. Aashiqui 2 on ₹14 Cr to ₹78 Cr was a phenomenon carried entirely on music. Grand Masti on ₹15 Cr to ₹92 Cr revealed the massive untapped appetite for adult comedy. Seven films crossed ₹100 Cr for the first time — the ₹100 Cr mark was no longer exceptional, it was the new entry ticket.
Kadal is classified as a Disaster by Boxoffy. The film collected ₹25 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹90 Cr. The film fell short of break-even theatrically.
Kadal collected ₹25 Cr India nett at the box office, with a worldwide gross of ₹25 Cr India nett. The India nett figure represents collections after GST extraction, as reported by Box Office India and cross-referenced with Sacnilk and Pinkvilla.
Kadal released in 2013 and is likely available on major Indian streaming platforms. Check Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV for current availability, as OTT rights shift periodically.
Kadal was directed by Mani Ratnam. The 2013 Tamil film earned a Disaster verdict at the Indian box office, collecting ₹25 Cr India nett.
Kadal collected ₹25 Cr India nett in 2013, earning a Disaster verdict. Dhoom 3 crossed ₹260 Cr — a number that felt impossible for Hindi cinema. Chennai Express was mass commercial cinema at its absolute loudest and most profitable. Aashiqui 2 on ₹14 Cr to ₹78 Cr was a p...