Karthi's Vaa Vaathiyaar Becomes Lowest Earning Film In His Career, What Went Wrong? Experts Weigh In | Exclusive

Karthi’s

latest releaseVaa Vaathiyaar has hit the digital space within 14 days of its theatrical premiere. Released amid multiple delays and legal hurdles, the action-comedy opened to mixed-to-negative reviews and struggled to gain momentum during its brief theatrical run. With a worldwide collection of around Rs 11 crore, the film has now become the lowest-grossing entry in Karthi’s career, reportedly surpassing previous underperformers in the actor's filmography. As the film has made its early OTT debut, trade experts and film analysts weigh in on why Vaa Vaathiyaar failed to strike a chord with audiences.

Why Did Vaa Vaathiyaar Underperform At The Box Office? Experts Share Opinion | Exclusive

Karthi’s Vaa Vaathiyaar, directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, hit theatres during the Pongal season after being delayed multiple times due to financial and legal complications. Originally planned for a December release, the film was postponed following scheduling conflicts with other major releases, including Vijay’s Jana Nayagan. Despite the festive window, the film failed to cash-in on the holiday crowd and exited theatres within two weeks. According to Sacnilk, the film is closing its worldwide box office run at approximately Rs 11 crore, making it the lowest-earning film in Karthi’s career. Previously, films like Dev (2019) and Japan (2023) were considered among his weaker box office performers, but Vaa Vaathiyaar has been added to the list of his underperforming films.

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala believes the film’s central idea failed to resonate with new-age audiences. On being asked why the film failed to hit the bullseye at the box office, he said, "It's very quirky...MGR reincarnation angle didn't work well with today's youth.. They expected from Nalan like his previous two movies... on being asked if anything to do with legal case he said "Not really.. You remember Madha Gaja Raja did well with hardly any promotion".For the unversed Vishal's Madha Gaja Raja intended for a January 2013 release, Madha Gaja Raja was delayed for 12 years due to legal and financial troubles, before releasing in early 2025. The film, despite its delayed release, and minimal promotions was a box office success and emerged the ninth highest-grossing Tamil film of 2025.

Film analyst Sidhu echoed similar sentiments, pointing to a disconnect between the director’s niche audience and Karthi’s big fan base. He said, "Vaa Vaathiyaar didn't click with Nalan's niche fan base nor with Karthi's clout. The film felt incomplete for audiences who could not really understand the entirety. Also, it didn't really feel like a tribute to MGR, it was more like an element in the story."Another film distributor, said Vaa Vaathiyaar needed a much larger canvas. "Fans expected to see the comic side of Karthi, and a gripping plot as well...like his previous films like Thozha or a film like Nalan Kumarasamy's Soodhu Kavvum. But they didn't get to see this".

Legal Troubles That Delayed the Release

The film’s journey to theatres was further complicated by legal issues involving producer K.E. Gnanavel Raja. In 2025, the Madras High Court repeatedly stalled the film’s release due to outstanding dues exceeding Rs 21 crore, payable to the estate of late Arjunlal Sunderdas. Despite partial payments and appeals, the court maintained the stay, citing repeated delays and lack of a complete settlement. These issues ultimately prevented the film from releasing in December as planned. Breaking the traditional four-week theatrical window in Tamil cinema, Vaa Vaathiyaar premiered on Prime Video on January 28. The film is available in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, with Prime Video acquiring the digital rights across all languages.

Produced by Studio Green, Vaa Vaathiyaar is positioned as a tribute to legendary actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). Karthi plays Ramu, a carefree police officer raised by his grandfather, an ardent MGR admirer. When circumstances threaten his grandfather’s beliefs, Ramu is pushed into a journey of responsibility and transformation.The film marks Krithi Shetty’s Tamil debut and features a large ensemble cast including Sathyaraj, Raj Kiran, Anandraj, Shilpa Manjunath, Karunakaran, G.M. Sundar, Ramesh Thilak, Nivas Adithan, Vadivukkarasi, Nizhalgal Ravi, and Thenappan P.L. Music for the film is composed by Santhosh Narayanan.