Kanimangalam Kovilakam Collection | Budget | OTT | Hit/Flop

Kanimangalam Kovilakam is a Malayalam-language comedy horror film, released on 16 January 2026, starring Ajmal Khan, Abbhi Krish, Muhamad Rafin, Rafi DQ, Tony Jose, and Anoop (Mudiyan) in key roles, with supporting performances from others. Directed by Raajesh Mohan and produced by Clapboard Films, the movie expands on a popular web series of the same name, blending supernatural elements with humor.

The plot centers on three students entangled with an unexplained entity in a hostel, where a haunted cemetery serves as a red herring for the true horror lurking nearby. Shot in authentic locations to evoke eerie authenticity, the film explores themes of fear, friendship, and folklore, running for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes with a U/A certification. The film entered theaters amid the post-Sankranthi period, facing stiff competition from holdovers like Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu and new releases, which impacted its visibility.

Advance bookings were modest, estimated at around ₹0.1 crore gross, primarily in Kerala regions such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, where local horror comedies often find niche audiences. Morning occupancy on opening day averaged 10-15% in urban multiplexes, reflecting limited pre-release buzz despite trailers highlighting its comedic twists on supernatural tropes. Early collections indicated a subdued start, with Day 1 India net around ₹0.25 crore, influenced by mixed initial reactions praising the ensemble’s chemistry but critiquing repetitive scares. Weekend growth was marginal, benefiting from family walk-ins during the extended holiday, but weekday drops were pronounced due to negative word-of-mouth on pacing issues.

By mid-run, occupancy fell below 5% in many screens, leading to early pullouts in favor of stronger performers. Worldwide figures remained negligible, with minimal diaspora contributions. Social media platforms showed sparse discussions, focusing on its web series origins rather than box office hype, suggesting a challenging trajectory for this low-key venture in 2026’s competitive Malayalam landscape. Projections estimate a short theatrical lifespan, potentially hampered by upcoming Republic Day films, though its cultural resonance in regional circuits could provide slight sustenance if OTT prospects materialize.

Kanimangalam Kovilakam 2026 Overview

Kanimangalam Kovilakam Box Office Collection

Kanimangalam Kovilakam is a Hit or Flop
Flop

What is the budget of Kanimangalam Kovilakam
The budget is around ₹5 crore.

Kanimangalam Kovilakam Ott release date

• OTT Platform: TBA
• OTT date: Expected 8 weeks post-theatrical.

Our Review

Kanimangalam Kovilakam unfolds as a comedy horror that draws from its web series roots to deliver a narrative blending supernatural intrigue with youthful camaraderie, directed by Raajesh Mohan. Ajmal Khan, Abbhi Krish, and Muhamad Rafin lead as the trio of students confronting eerie occurrences in their hostel, their performances capturing a mix of fear and levity that anchors the film’s lighter moments. Rafi DQ, Tony Jose, and Anoop reprise their roles with familiar chemistry, infusing the story with nostalgic humor from the original series.

The technical execution, including atmospheric cinematography that builds tension through dimly lit corridors and subtle sound design enhancing ghostly encounters, creates pockets of genuine suspense. However, the screenplay occasionally falters in balancing comedy with horror, leaning on familiar jump scares and predictable twists that dilute the overall impact, reminiscent of earlier Malayalam horrors like Bhoothakaalam but lacking their psychological depth. Box office performance has been lackluster, with an opening day of ₹0.25 crore net reflecting limited pre-release hype and competition from festival holdovers.

In Kerala, where regional horror comedies thrive, initial occupancy trends at 12% suggested potential, but sharp drops post-weekend indicate audience dissatisfaction with the narrative’s repetitive elements. Compared to web-to-film adaptations like the successful Romancham, which amassed over ₹50 crore through sustained word-of-mouth, Kanimangalam Kovilakam’s modest scale and execution issues have capped traction, resulting in early screen reductions. Worldwide, the absence of significant overseas appeal further constrains totals, differing from pan-South Indian hits that leveraged dubbing for broader reach.

Projections for Kanimangalam Kovilakam anticipate a domestic lifetime net under ₹2 crore, contingent on minimal Republic Day spillover, positioning it as a flop despite its cultural ties to the popular series. The film’s exploration of folklore and modern youth offers a fresh angle in 2026’s Malayalam slate, akin to the thematic blend in films like Bramayugam, yet success will hinge on OTT revival where its episodic origins might resonate better.

While not groundbreaking, the ensemble’s enthusiasm and directorial intent provide redeeming qualities, likely appealing to fans of the source material in streaming formats amid the industry’s shift toward content-driven recoveries.

Top 15 Opening day movie of Malayalam 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer:

1. Box office figures in this article are independently estimated by Tenvow based on an internal tracking methodology that evaluates theatre occupancy trends, distributor feedback, and regional trade indicators.
2. The data reflects industry estimates available at the time of publication and may vary slightly from officially reported or audited figures released later.
3. These figures should be considered preliminary and indicative, not official confirmations.
4. Tenvow does not guarantee absolute accuracy of the data and presents it solely for informational purposes.
5. All financial figures are stated in Indian Rupees (INR) and represented in crores, unless specified otherwise.
6. All dates and times mentioned follow Indian Standard Time (IST) (UTC +5:30).

Reference:

Zee News

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