Before Kaathal The Core OTT release, Mammootty-Jyoithika starrer will end box office run with a 'hit' tag

Kaathal The Core, starring Mammootty and Jyoithika, has defied the notion that such films are only suited for viewing on OTT platforms. The popular consensus is that a slow-moving, deep, philosophical human drama that revolves around an offbeat topic will not find many takers at the box office. 

Even though the scale of the commercial success of Kaathal The Core may not be as big as Mammootty's Kannur Squad, which was a procedural drama, it's significant. In the last 18 days, Kaathal has raked in more than Rs 12 crore from its ticket sales in India alone. It may not seem much at a time when big star films in other languages make 10 times more on the opening day. However, this is a significant milestone for a film of this nature. 

Kaathal is devoid of major action sequences, preachy dialogues, comedy and titillating romance, which have seemingly become key ingredients of big blockbusters. And yet, it's still breathing at the box office and continues to hold on its own despite challenges from big films such as Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. 

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Considering Kaathal's modest budget and its slow but steady performance in cinemas, the film will end its theatrical run at the box office with a 'hit' tag. This trend shows that there is a market, regardless of its size, for such moving films and it suggests the possibility that it could grow in the future. The success of Kaathal will encourage more and more filmmakers to explore topics that are usually considered not mainstream enough. 

Mammootty headling the film that captures the struggles of a closeted gay man is a path-breaking attempt in the history of Malayalam cinema. And its effects will be felt across the Indian film industry long after the film ends its box office run and finds a home on one of the leading streaming platforms. 

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The buzz is that Jio Cinemas owns the streaming rights to Kaathal The Core. However, an official confirmation is awaited soon. The film is expected to make its digital debut after a four-week theatrical run.