Prithviraj Sukumaran's 'The Goat Life' Becomes Third Highest-Grossing Malayalam Film

Prithviraj Sukumaran's Malayalam film 'The Goat Life' (also known as 'Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life') has grossed ₹149.27 crores worldwide, surpassing Mohanlal's 'Pulimurugan' to become the third highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. The film's strong performance has contributed to the positive run of Malayalam cinema in 2024, with the industry's collective box office collections reaching ₹405 crores in the first three months of the year, already around 71% of the entire Malayalam box office in 2023. This has resulted in Malayalam films having a higher share of 16% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to only 5% in 2023.

'Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life', directed by Blessy, was based on a true story and was made on a budget of ₹40 crore. It took nine years to complete and was released in five different languages. The film had a strong box office performance, earning ₹77.35 crore in India in its first 21 days of release. On its 21st day, the film earned ₹1 crore, and on its 20th day, it earned ₹1.2 crore. The film's worldwide collection now stands at ₹144.07 crore.

The film, which was based on writer Benyamin's novel of the same name, was 16 years in the making and was considered a risky project for both Prithviraj and director Blessy. However, the film opened to great reviews and crossed the ₹100 crore mark in just nine days of its global release. The film's success is attributed to the changing landscape of regional cinema and the rise of the 'pan-India' concept, which made the film's grand vision more feasible. "Aadujeevitham is now marching towards the ₹150 crore club, cementing its place as one of the biggest Malayalam blockbusters of all time," industry analysts noted.

Why this matters: The success of 'The Goat Life' reflects the growing popularity and reach of Malayalam cinema beyond its traditional regional boundaries. It also highlights the potential for ambitious, large-scale projects in the industry when backed by a compelling story and strong performances.

The Malayalam film industry has seen several other successes in the first quarter of 2024, including 'Aattam (The Play)', 'Abraham Ozler', 'Malaikottai Vaaliban', 'Anweshippin Kandethu', 'Naslen', 'Premalu', and 'Manjummel Boys'. 'Premalu' in particular became a hit across India and earned praise from filmmakers like SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu. With 'The Goat Life' now joining the ranks of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time, the industry appears poised for a record-breaking year at the box office.

Key Takeaways

• Malayalam film 'The Goat Life' grossed ₹149.27 crores, becoming 3rd highest-grossing Malayalam film.
• Malayalam cinema's box office collections reached ₹405 crores in Q1 2024, 71% of 2023's total.
• 'The Goat Life' earned ₹77.35 crore in India in 21 days, crossing ₹100 crore in 9 days globally.
• The film's success reflects growing popularity of Malayalam cinema beyond its regional boundaries.
• Several other Malayalam films also saw success in Q1 2024, including 'Premalu' which earned praise.