Kantara, The Kashmir Files, Manjummel Boys and more post-pandemic Indian films which delivered highest returns

Kantara The Kashmir Files and more films have generated most returns

India is one of the biggest entertainment hubs with thousands of films captivating the audience every year. However, the audience behaviour, production strategies, and box office dynamics have undergone significant shifts in the last few years, especially post-pandemic.

Ormax Media has recently released data highlighting the top movies that have achieved the highest returns on a constrained budget. However, the data has also showcased that regional films like Kantara, Manjummel Boys and more have stood out and dominated the list.

Leading the list is Kannada film Kantara, which earned Rs 362 crore on a budget of Rs 13 crore. Rishab Shetty's starrer and directorial film was released on 30 September 2022 and obtained a Return on Investment (ROI) of 27.1 times.

Following the trend is the Malayalam horror comedy Romancham. The film notably earned Rs 41 crore on a Rs 2 crore budget, giving it a 21.2 times ROI.

The film was released on 3 February 2023 and follows seven friends residing together in Bengaluru whose lives were turned upside down after they decide to use an Ouija board.

Tamil film Love Today bagged the third spot on the list with the earnings of Rs 73 crore. The film was made with a budget of Rs 4 crore, achieving an ROI of 17.3 times.

Next on the list is Anupam Kher's starrer The Kashmir Files that revolves around the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. The film grossed Rs 292 crore from a Rs 17 crore budget, resulting in an ROI of 17.2 times.

Meanwhile, Telugu film Baby, released on 14 July 2023, earned Rs 68 crore against a Rs 6 crore cost, with an ROI of 11.5 times.

Another Telugu film, Jathi Ratnalu, collected Rs 64 crore and had a production cost of Rs 5.5 crore. The film generated a return of 11.5 times the investment.

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The 2024 Malayalam film Manjummel Boys, which received critical acclaim and audience praise, earned Rs 170 crore on a Rs 15 crore budget, delivering an ROI of 10.8 times. The film is inspired by the true story of a group of friends whose Guna Caves adventure takes a dangerous turn.

Adah Sharma starrer Hindi film The Kerala Story bagged Rs 265 crore on a Rs 25 crore budget, yielding a return of 10.6 times.

Telugu action adventure earned Rs 206 crore with a production cost of Rs 20 crore, delivering an ROI of 10.4 times.

However, Vikrant Massey's starrer Hindi film 12th Fail bagged the 10th spot in the list. The film was released in 2023 and brought in Rs 66 crore from a Rs 7 crore budget, achieving an ROI of 10.2 times.