Sekhar Kammula’s Kuberaa, the big pan-Indian thriller starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh, is all set to hit theaters tomorrow, June 20, 2025. With a hefty budget and a killer cast, this flick’s already making bank before the first ticket’s sold, pulling in some serious cash from theatrical, streaming, and other deals. Even with some shaky advance bookings in Tamil Nadu, Kuberaa’s pre-release business is shaping up to be one of Dhanush’s biggest yet. Here’s the scoop on how it’s stacking up worldwide.
A Blockbuster Budget and Big Deals
Put together by Suniel Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Rao under Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP and Amigos Creations, Kuberaa’s rocking a budget north of ₹120 crore—Kammula’s priciest project ever and a huge step up for Dhanush and Nagarjuna. Word is, the film’s pre-release deals have already crossed ₹100 crore globally, putting the producers in a pretty comfy spot. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Theater Deals: Telugu states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are where it’s at, with deals hitting around ₹40 crore thanks to Nagarjuna’s star power and Kammula’s fanbase. Andhra alone brought in ₹22 crore, and the Nizam region’s handled by the producers’ own Asian Cinemas. Tamil Nadu’s deals are a bit softer at ₹19 crore, probably ‘cause some folks think it’s more of a Telugu vibe, even though it’s shot in Tamil too. Add in the rest of India and overseas, and theatrical rights are sitting pretty at about ₹65 crore worldwide.
- Streaming Rights: Amazon Prime Video swooped in and grabbed the digital rights for a cool ₹47 crore, showing how much pull Dhanush has on OTT after Raayan. Expect it to drop on Prime in late July or August 2025 after its theater run.
- TV and Music Rights: Satellite rights, likely with Star Maa, are pegged at ₹45 crore, though deals aren’t fully locked yet. Audio rights went to Aditya Music for ₹15 crore, boosted by Devi Sri Prasad’s bangers like “Poyiraa Mama” (April 20, 2025) and “Anaganaga Kadha” (June 2, 2025).
All in, the pre-release haul’s estimated at ₹100-120 crore, meaning Kuberaa’s nearly covered its ₹120 crore budget before showtime—a big win for a non-action flick.
Regional Highlights: Telugu States Shine, Tamil Nadu Lags
Telugu markets are loving Kuberaa. Nagarjuna’s a huge draw, and trade folks say it’s Dhanush’s best-ever pre-release deal in Andhra and Telangana, hitting that ₹40 crore mark. Fans are showing up big, with BookMyShow calling Kuberaa a top pick in Telugu regions after the June 15 Hyderabad trailer drop. Overseas, the U.S. is killing it too—advance sales for the June 11 premiere spiked 239%, closing at $193,110 across 403 spots with 9369 tickets sold. North America’s looking at $210K in premiere pre-sales, with a shot at $350K+ on premiere day, which is solid for a social drama.
Challenges and Expectations
Even with all this cash rolling in, Kuberaa’s got some hurdles. Its 183-minute runtime (U/A, trimmed from 185 minutes with 19 CBFC cuts) and heavy themes about greed, ambition, and class divides might not click with everyone. Kammula’s jumping from his usual lovey-dovey stories to this intense vibe, which has fans curious but some wondering if it’ll hit the same. It’s gotta nail the reviews and pull in weekend crowds, especially with Sitaare Zameen Par and DNA dropping the same day.
What’s Next?
Kuberaa’s pre-release game is strong, raking in ₹100-120 crore and nearly covering its ₹120 crore budget with smart deals. Telugu states and the U.S. are carrying the hype, but Tamil Nadu’s gotta step up. With Kammula’s storytelling, Dhanush’s killer performance (Kammula’s calling it National Award-worthy), and a dope cast, this could be a big one if it connects. Trade folks are eyeing an 8-20 crore opening day, with Telugu leading the charge.
Source: TrackTollywood