Sumanth’s mystery thriller Mahendragiri Varahi posted decent collections over its opening weekend, defying low expectations. While the numbers aren’t impressive by commercial standards, the film showed consistent hold at theaters thanks to its genre appeal.
About Mahendragiri Varahi
Mahendragiri Varahi, directed by Santosh Jagarlapudi, released on September 11, 2026. The film stars Sumanth alongside Malvika Nair, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Meenakshi Goswami, with Siddhu Jonnalagadda appearing in a special role. The mythological mystery thriller follows an atheist investigating mysterious deaths in Mahendragiri attributed to the goddess Vaaraahi.
The genre gave the film an advantage at the box office. Mystery thrillers typically attract niche audiences who provide steady footfalls even when initial buzz is limited.
Weekend Box Office Performance
The film’s collections over its first four days show modest but stable performance:
| Metric | Collection |
|---|---|
| All-India Tracked Gross (4 Days) | ₹2.5 Cr+ |
These numbers are relatively respectable given the film’s scale and Sumanth’s recent track record. The mystery thriller maintained consistency at a low level throughout the opening weekend, avoiding the sharp drops that plague poorly-received films.
Lenin Box Office Day 4: ₹41 Cr WW Gross, Decent Hold showed similar steady performance for a mid-budget film earlier this year.
Impact of Negative Reviews
Despite the decent collections, Mahendragiri Varahi received unanimous negative reviews from critics and audiences. The poor word of mouth severely limited the film’s box office potential.
With positive talk, the mystery thriller’s genre advantage could have translated into much bigger numbers. The film had the elements to attract wider audiences — an intriguing premise, a decent star cast, and production values that suited the genre.
However, execution issues and negative reception capped its growth. While it managed to gather some collections over the opening days, Mahendragiri Varahi lost the chance to emerge as a sleeper hit at the box office.
