Box Office Report 02 March 2026: The Kerala Story 2 vs Thaai Kizhavi — Monday Rankings Revealed!

Monday is the day of reckoning in the film industry and today is no different in the bustling heart of Mumbai where the trade circles are already buzzing with the early morning numbers of 02 March 2026. The weekend euphoria has settled and the cold reality of the weekday dip is staring everyone in the face. It was a day where the heavyweights fought for every single seat while the smaller films tried to hold their ground against the massive wave of the newcomers.

We saw a total collection summary that tells a story of survival and grit as The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond finally managed to edge past the rural powerhouse Thaai Kizhavi in a neck-and-neck race for the top spot. The air is thick with tension because the drop today will decide which film has the legs to cross the finish line and which one will just vanish into thin air. It is a classic battle of ideologies versus emotions as the audience decides the fate of these stories across the length and breadth of the country.

Is the audience finally choosing high-decibel controversy over grounded family drama or is this just a temporary spike that will fade by tomorrow? The real question you should be asking yourself is whether a movie needs a political firestorm to survive a Monday or can a simple story about a 70-year-old grandmother still hold its own against the noise?

Poster	Movie	Day	Collection	India Net	WW
	The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond ₹30 Cr *	Day 04	₹2.65 Cr	₹12.94 Cr	₹15.26 Cr
	Thaai Kizhavi 2026 ₹12 Cr	Day 04	₹2.4 Cr	₹15.86 Cr	₹24.27 Cr
	Vishnu Vinyasam ₹20 Cr *	Day 04	₹1.05 Cr	₹7.98 Cr	₹12.12 Cr
	O Romeo ₹150 Cr	Day 18	₹0.65 Cr	₹66.67 Cr	₹103.36 Cr
	Masthishka Maranam 2026 ₹- Cr	Day 04	₹0.3 Cr	₹1.94 Cr	₹2.27 Cr
	Viyaah Kartaare Da ₹123 Crore*	Day 04	₹0.3 Cr	₹2.12 Cr	₹2.48 Cr
	Assi ₹25 Cr	Day 11	₹0.18 Cr	₹8.82 Cr	₹11.72 Cr
	Scream 7 (2026) ₹- Cr	Day 04	₹0.15 Cr	₹1.48 Cr	₹881.73 Cr

The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond the Monday Blues

The biggest story of the day is undoubtedly The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond which has managed to grab the number one spot on its fourth day of release. This film has been surrounded by protests and legal battles since its premiere and that noise seems to be translating into ticket sales despite the mixed reactions from the ground.

On Monday, 02 March 2026, it collected ₹2.65 crore in India net which is a commendable hold after a ₹4.5 crore Sunday. The film has now reached a total India net of ₹12.94 crore with a worldwide gross of ₹15.26 crore. While some viewers are calling it propaganda-driven and exaggerated, others are flocking to theatres claiming it brings out the truth about social evils.

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the movie is performing exceptionally well in Maharashtra and Telangana though it faced cancellations in parts of Kerala due to protests.

Thaai Kizhavi 2026 Proves Rural Power is Real

Coming in at a very close second is the Tamil rural drama Thaai Kizhavi 2026. This film is a pure example of how content-driven cinema can challenge big-budget spectacles. Even on its fourth day, it managed to pull in ₹2.4 crore India net which brings its total domestic collection to ₹15.86 crore.

The worldwide numbers are even more impressive at ₹24.27 crore. Radikaa Sarathkumar has delivered what many are calling a career-defining performance as the 70-year-old matriarch Pavunuthayi. The film had a massive Sunday with ₹6 crore net and the Monday drop is quite controlled considering it is a regional film competing on a national level. Audiences are loving the mix of sharp humor and deep emotional reflection which makes it a favorite for family outings.

Vishnu Vinyasam Stays Steady in the Middle

Sree Vishnu continues his streak of relatable comedies with Vishnu Vinyasam which holds the third position today. On its Day 04, the film collected ₹1.05 crore India net taking its total to ₹7.98 crore. It is a solid performer in the Telugu market where it recorded a decent 27.19% occupancy over the weekend.

With a worldwide collection of ₹12.12 crore, the film is proving that consistent comic timing and a grounded story can keep the cash registers ringing even during the weekdays. The presence of veteran actors like Murali Sharma and Sathya has provided the much-needed support to keep the audience engaged through the afternoon and evening shows.

O Romeo Struggles in its Third Week

The Shahid Kapoor starrer O Romeo is now on its 18th day and the fatigue is clearly visible. It collected only ₹0.65 crore India net today which is a significant drop from its early days. Despite being a Vishal Bhardwaj directorial with a massive budget of ₹150 crore, the film has only managed to reach a total India net of ₹66.67 crore.

Worldwide, it has just crossed the ₹100 crore mark sitting at ₹103.36 crore. The romantic revenge drama received a lukewarm reception and even though Shahid’s performance was praised, the slow pace and complex narrative didn’t quite click with the mass audience in the long run. It seems the Romeo of 2026 is finding it hard to stay relevant in a market that is moving towards faster-paced thrillers.

The Underdogs and the Global Giant

Down at the bottom of the chart, Masthishka Maranam 2026 and Viyaah Kartaare Da both earned ₹0.3 crore India net on their fourth day. Masthishka Maranam is a unique sci-fi cyberpunk mockumentary that is finding its audience slowly through word of mouth specifically in the Kerala markets. It has a total India net of ₹1.94 crore.

Meanwhile, the Punjabi entertainer Viyaah Kartaare Da starring Gippy Grewal and Nimrat Khaira is doing well in the North with a total of ₹2.12 crore India net.

Lastly, Scream 7 (2026) continues its global rampage. While its India net for Monday was a modest ₹0.15 crore, its worldwide gross is a staggering ₹881.73 crore (approx USD 106 million). It is currently the highest-grossing film of 2026 globally proving that the Ghostface mask still has a massive pull after thirty years.

Monday has shown us that controversy can give you a lead but it takes heart and humor to stay in the race.

Tomorrow will be even more interesting as the numbers usually stabilize or crash further. I personally think The Kerala Story 2 will continue to dominate the headlines but Thaai Kizhavi is the one that will have the last laugh in terms of return on investment. It is a good time for the industry because different genres are co-existing but the high budget of O Romeo failing to recover is a warning sign for big producers.

Do you think a movie should be banned if it causes protests or should the audience be the final judge at the box office?