Hari Hara Veera Mallu, the Pawan Kalyan-led film, initiates with strong box office revenues; surpasses Rs 30 crore mark on its debut day.
Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 1: A Mixed Box Office Performance
The highly anticipated Telugu film, Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 - Sword vs Spirit, starring Pawan Kalyan, made its debut on July 24, 2025. The film, set in the 17th century, revolves around a fictional legendary outlaw named Veera Mallu, who rebels against the Mughal army and empire.
Despite Pawan Kalyan's stardom, the film's box office performance has been a mixed bag, with strong initial earnings but a disappointing recovery rate. On its opening day, Hari Hara Veera Mallu earned an estimated Rs 31.50 crore net in India, with a total occupancy of 57.39%. The afternoon and evening shows saw occupancy rates of 45.89% and 58.12%, respectively, while the morning and night shows performed better with rates of 63.52% and 62.01%.
However, the film's collections dropped on subsequent days, and by day 3, it had only managed to recover about 21.5% of its estimated 300 crore INR budget. This low recovery rate marks it as a commercial underperformer.
Compared to Pawan Kalyan's previous hits, Hari Hara Veera Mallu had a strong opening day but failed to maintain the momentum. It earned less than Ram Charan's film Game Changer, which grossed around 90 crore on day 1, but more than Vakeel Saab, Bheemla Nayak, and Bro.
In the broader context of 2025 Telugu films, Hari Hara Veera Mallu ranks second in terms of opening day gross, with Gamechanger taking the top spot. However, its recovery rate is significantly lower than that of other major releases, including Gamechanger, Daaku Maharaaj, and several other films.
The film's reception among netizens has been mixed. While many were disappointed with the film's VFX and screenplay, others praised Pawan Kalyan's performance. The film Hari Hara Veera Mallu X, featuring Bobby Deol and Nidhhi Agerwal in pivotal roles, is another film in the series, but its release date and earnings were not mentioned in this paragraph.
In summary, Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 1 opened with a major box office presence but has struggled to sustain earnings and recover its huge budget, ranking it as a below-par performer among 2025 Telugu blockbusters and Pawan Kalyan's filmography so far.
[1] Box Office India - Hari Hara Veera Mallu Box Office Collections [2] Telugu360 - Hari Hara Veera Mallu Box Office Collections [3] India Today - Hari Hara Veera Mallu Box Office Collections [4] Andhra Box Office - Hari Hara Veera Mallu Box Office Collections
As the film enterprise attempted to diversify, discussions were had over the financial implications of such an endeavor, considering the success of the movie Hari Hara Veera Mallu in areas like food concessions and merchandise sales during its cinematic run.
However, in stark contrast, the financial instability of the movie industry was highlighted when comparing the film's earnings to its estimated budget, making it essential to find new revenue streams in areas like entertainment and sports to ensure sustainable growth.
