Dude Box Office: Pradeep Effect or Director Credit?

Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dude, directed by debutant Keerthiswaran, hit theatres on October 17 as a Diwali special and has been creating a storm at the box office.

Yesterday, the Dude team held a thanksgiving event to celebrate the film’s success. During the event, director Keerthiswaran’s speech went viral and sparked wide discussion on social media.

In his speech, Keerthiswaran said the audience had accepted Dude wholeheartedly and that the film’s ₹95-crore collection was just the beginning. He also promised to continue delivering strong messages in an entertaining way in his future films.

Soon after, Trollers online reacted sharply. Many argued that Dude’s box-office numbers depended mainly on Pradeep Ranganathan’s star power. They claimed Keerthiswaran still needs to prove his directorial strength and felt Dude was an average film lifted by its lead actor.

Some even suggested that if any other emerging actor had played the lead, Dude wouldn’t have achieved the same success. Keerthiswaran, however, seems convinced that the film worked because of its content. Viewers believe he should stay grounded and continue honing his direction skills.

Trade analysts, meanwhile, estimate Dude has made around ₹80 crores in its first five days, suggesting the team might be overstating the figures. Despite the debate, the film continues to hold strong at the box office.

Whether Dude ends its run as Pradeep Ranganathan’s highest-grossing film, surpassing Dragon, will be known in the coming weeks.