Indian cinema sees record box office recovery in 2025

Indian cinema is bouncing back strongly in 2025 after a tough period during the pandemic. The first two months of the year have shown impressive box office results. Total earnings for Indian films worldwide reached ₹2,264 crore in January and February. This is a significant 39% increase compared to the same time last year. February was especially notable, with collections hitting ₹1,245 crore, the highest since the pandemic began. A major contributor to this success was the Hindi film "Chhaava," which alone brought in ₹657 crore. In 2024, Bollywood held 40% of the market share. However, that number has risen to 45% in early 2025 due to "Chhaava's" popularity. Malayalam cinema remains stable, maintaining a 7% market share. Among recent releases in February, Tamil films also saw success, with one earning ₹122 crore and another at ₹96 crore. The Malayalam film "Kunjali Marakkar" has done well, earning ₹39 crore with a budget of ₹13 crore. It is ranked sixth in the top ten chart. Re-releases of classic films have also done well, with earnings of ₹40 crore and ₹28 crore. In the Telugu film sector, one movie starring Venkatesh has made ₹222 crore, while another directed by Shankar has earned ₹153 crore. Overall, the numbers reflect a positive trend in Indian cinema's recovery, showcasing a diverse range of films from different language industries.