This Diwali season, Kollywood saw the release of three medium-budget films Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dude, Dhruv Vikram’s Bison, and Harish Kalyan’s Diesel. With no major releases this year, all eyes were on how these titles would perform at the box office.
Diesel failed to make an impact after an average audience response, but Dude and Bison have been in a strong box office clash since release. Both films continue to draw solid numbers, keeping the festive lineup competitive.
Until yesterday, Dude maintained a clear lead over Bison. Trade trackers pointed out that Dude’s commercial appeal made it the preferred festive pick, while Bison’s intense tone appealed to a smaller section of viewers.
However, from today, Bison has overtaken Dude in advance bookings at several centres. Reports show Bison holding a slight edge on ticketing platforms like BookMyShow, signaling a shift in audience interest.
Industry trackers now believe word-of-mouth is favouring Bison. While Dude initially benefited from Pradeep Ranganathan’s popularity, Bison’s stronger reviews and positive feedback seem to be drawing more crowds with each passing day.
That said, Bison’s performance remains strongest in Tamil Nadu, whereas Dude continues to hold well across other states. This regional divide is shaping the film’s overall box office trends.
If current booking trends continue, Bison may dominate Tamil Nadu’s box office in the coming days. However, it remains to be seen whether Bison can maintain momentum long enough to surpass Dude’s total earnings by the end of its run.
