Dulquer’s ‘I’m Game’ Struggles To Find Its Footing

Dulquer Salmaan’s latest Malayalam action thriller, I’m Game, has had a shaky box-office start after releasing worldwide on September 3. Its Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Kannada dubbed versions faced heavy cancellations on day one, with Digital Cinema Package (DCPs) delays reportedly forcing several theatres to cancel morning shows or pull screenings amid weak advance bookings.

While fans have lauded the film’s massy action and gritty treatment, critics and general audiences have delivered mixed responses, with the screenplay drawing significant criticism.

Dulquer’s last major Malayalam release, King of Kotha (2023), failed at the box office. I’m Game marks his return to Malayalam cinema with an Onam release, making its opening crucial. Interestingly, fans have noted Dulquer’s knack for avoiding potential box-office disasters, pointing to his exits from Indian 2 and Thug Life, which later underperformed or faced delays. The coming weekend will be crucial for I’m Game as it looks to recover at the box office.

Box: Despite its troubled rollout outside Kerala, the film has not completely crashed, collecting around Rs 10 crore net across India in its first two days.