Rajinikanth's Muthu vs Kamal Haasan's Aalavandhan - Who is the real box office winner?

The movies of Tamil superstars Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth have clashed at the box office multiple times in the past. However, Kamal's films have always come second in terms of ticket sales against Rajinikanth's films. And for the first time, this is not the case. Kamal's Aalavandhan is leading the box office with higher ticket sales and show counts compared to Rajinikath's Muthu. 

Aalavandhan and Muthu were re-released in cinemas on December 8. And the Kamal-starrer managed to maintain an edge over Muthu since day one. On average, Aalavandhan managed to earn nearly Rs 10 lakh on a daily basis since its re-release in Tamil Nadu alone. 

According to Cinetrak, Aalavandhan collected nearly Rs 50 lakh within five days of its release, while Muthu earned over Rs 23 lakh during the same period.  

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It's noteworthy that these two movies might have done better in terms of collections, if not for the destruction caused by Cyclone Michaung. The rains that were triggered by the cyclone wreaked havoc in Chennai and surrounding areas for days. Chennai suffered the most as the entire city was submerged due to the relentless rains, greatly affecting the lives of people. 

For days, people living in low-lying areas were unable to move out from their inundated houses. 

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Despite the heavy flooding caused in the city, Aalavandhan and Muthu were drawing considerable crowds to cinemas, showcasing the enduring popularity of Kamal and Rajinikanth. 

Aalavandhan is a psychological thriller directed by Suresh Krissna and was initially released in 2001. In addition to playing the leading roles, Kamal also wrote the film's screenplay and dialogues. The film explores the complex relationship between two brothers blending the elements of psychological drama, action, and suspense, with a gripping plot that involves a psychotic breakdown and its aftermath.

Muthu, written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar, was first released in 1995. The story revolves around Muthu (Rajinikanth), a loyal and kind-hearted servant who works for the wealthy Zamindar Raja Malayasimman (Sarath Babu). As the plot unfolds, Muthu faces challenges and sacrifices for the well-being of the Zamindar's family.