The Telugu-Tamil bilingual crime drama Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Rashmika Mandanna, has taken the Indian box office by storm, grossing Sh200.5 million net on its opening day, June 20, 2025, according to Sacnilk.
Directed by Sekhar Kammula, the film has sparked a frenzy on social media, trending with fans and critics hailing Dhanush’s “national award-worthy” performance as Deva, a beggar-turned-powerful figure.
The movie’s gripping narrative and socio-political themes have positioned it as Tollywood’s fifth-biggest opener of 2025, surpassing Naga Chaitanya’s Thandel (Sh172 million).
Kuberaa opened to 57.36% occupancy in Telugu-speaking regions, with Hyderabad recording a stellar 67%, while Tamil markets saw a slower start at 27-31% occupancy.
Fans celebrated the film’s “explosive” trailer and Devi Sri Prasad’s soul-stirring soundtrack, particularly the single PoyiraaMama, which has gone viral.
Early reviews praise the film’s emotional depth, with actress Sai Pallavi calling Dhanush’s portrayal a “masterclass in acting” on social media, fuelling #Kuberaa’s global buzz.
One fan posted, “From interval goosebumps to climax chills, #Kuberaa has zero dull moments!”
The film, released in five languages—Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada—explores themes of greed, power, and redemption, with Dhanush’s Deva outsmarting a cunning millionaire, played by Jim Sarbh.
Nagarjuna’s “special role” and Rashmika’s compelling performance have also drawn acclaim, noting 95,000+ tickets sold on BookMyShow in 24 hours.
In North America, Kuberaa grossed over $900,000 on Day 1, marking Dhanush’s biggest U.S. opening.
Despite 19 CBFC cuts shortening its runtime by 13 minutes, Kuberaa’s tight screenplay and Kammula’s departure from feel-good cinema into gritty drama have resonated, with News18 calling it a “blockbuster”.
Amazon Prime Video secured its OTT rights for a Sh 745 million deal, with streaming set for July.
