Dhanush’s Raayan has opened to spectacular numbers over the weekend. The first three days were outstanding for the film, setting it on a path to potentially hit the Rs 100 crore mark this week. As of the first weekend, the Tamil Nadu gross stands at close to 35 crores, the Telugu States gross around 7.5 crores, and the rest of India contributing 10 crores. The film’s overseas performance has been strong, with a gross of 20 crores, bringing the worldwide total to approximately 72 crores.
While Raayan is enjoying great success in theatres, it is also facing the challenge of piracy. A piracy print of the film has leaked online, casting a shadow over its box office run. In a significant move, one of the admins of Tamil Rockers, Jeb Stephen Raj from Madurai, was arrested by the Kochi City Cyber Police. He was caught red-handed recording the movie in a theatre in Thiruvananthapuram, reportedly receiving Rs 5000 per movie upload from Tamil Rockers.
Piracy remains a significant threat to the cinema industry, overshadowing the benefits of OTT platforms. It is crucial for the industry and authorities to implement stricter guidelines on recording videos in theatres and to continue making arrests to combat this issue effectively.