Box Office Verdict: Hit
Article 370, the Aditya Suhas Jambhale-directed political thriller starring Yami Gautam and Priyamani, has emerged as one of 2024’s surprise success stories with ₹82.32 crore domestically (net), currently ranking #146 in Filmymojo’s 2024 box office charts. The low-budget film demonstrated exceptional legs at the box office.
Box Office Breakdown
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Collection | ₹82.32 crore |
| Current Rank | #146 (All Releases) |
| Genre | Political Thriller |
| Release Date | February 23, 2024 |
| Director | Aditya Suhas Jambhale |
| Lead Cast | Yami Gautam, Priyamani |
Genre Comparison
- Average Political Thriller Collection (Last 5 Years): ₹34.7 crore
- Article 370 vs. Genre Avg: 137% above benchmark
- Top Political Thrillers:
- The Kashmir Files (₹252.73 crore)
- Article 370 (₹82.32 crore)
- The Kerala Story (₹242.85 crore) *
- URI (₹245.36 crore) *
(*While not pure political thrillers, comparable in tone)
Yami Gautam’s Rising Stardom
Article 370 continues Yami’s successful streak in content-driven films:
| Movie | Collection (₹ Cr) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| URI | 245.36 | 2019 |
| Article 370 | 82.32 | 2024 |
| Bala | 116.67 | 2019 |
| Dasvi | (OTT Release) | 2022 |
Key Insight: Yami now holds two of the top five highest-grossing female-led political dramas.
The Budget-to-Business Ratio
What makes Article 370’s performance remarkable:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | ₹25 crore |
| Marketing Spend | ₹10 crore |
| ROI | 3.29x |
| Breakeven Point | Achieved in Week 2 |
Industry Standard: Most political dramas need 2.5x to be profitable.
Weekly Performance Breakdown
The film showed rare growth post-opening:
| Week | Collection (₹ Cr) | Drop |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28.41 | – |
| 2 | 32.15 | +13% |
| 3 | 15.72 | 51% |
| 4 | 6.04 | 62% |
Remarkable Trend: The 13% second-week growth is unprecedented for political dramas.
Controversies & Political Impact
- Timing Advantage: Released during Kashmir political debates
- Social Media Storm: Trended for 11 consecutive days
- Real-Life Parallels: Sparked discussions about the actual Article 370 revocation
- Opposition Criticism: Some called it “propaganda”, which boosted curiosity
Audience Demographics
- Urban/Rural Split: 63%/37% (unusual for political films)
- Gender Ratio: 54% male, 46% female
- Age Group:
- 18-35: 68%
- 35+: 32%
Final Verdict
With ₹82.32 crore, Article 370 has proven that well-made political thrillers can achieve mainstream success. Its performance is particularly impressive considering:
- No A-list stars
- Niche subject matter
- Clash with Crakk in initial weeks
Watch Recommendation: Essential viewing for political drama enthusiasts, though may feel one-sided to neutral viewers.
Data Source: Filmymojo Box Office Database