Kollywood
Ghilli 4K Shatters Benchmarks as Kollywood's Highest Re-release Grosser;Padayappa and Mankatha Breach Historic Highs
The Kollywood box office is witnessing an unprecedented phenomenon as digitally remastered classics continue to outperform several new releases. Leading this charge is Thalapathy Vijay's 2004 blockbuster Ghilli, which has officially become the highest-grossing re-released Tamil film in history. The trend, fueled by high-quality 4K restorations and massive fan-base mobilization, has seen iconic titles from Rajinikanth and Ajith Kumar also securing multi-crore grosses years after their original theatrical runs. These re-releases are no longer limited to single-screen celebrations but are commanding widespread multiplex presence across international territories, including North America, France, and Malaysia. Top 4 Highest Grossing Kollywood Re-releases (Worldwide Gross) RANK MOVIE NAME RE-RELEASE GROSS KEY MILESTONE #1 Ghilli (4K) ₹32.00 Cr Highest ever Indian Re-release Day 1 (₹8 Cr) #2 Padayappa (4K) ₹19.00 Cr Biggest re-release for Superstar Rajinikanth #3 Mankatha (4K) ₹16.00 Cr Highest pre-sales for an Ajith Kumar re-run #4 Sachein (4K) ₹13.00 Cr Record 59,000+ tickets sold on BMS (Chennai) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Celebrating two decades since its original release, the 4K version of Ghilli returned to theaters on April 20, 2024, to a reception that rivaled a new tentpole release. Opening across 1,000 screens globally, the film recorded a massive ₹8 crore gross on its first day. By the end of its run, it amassed approximately ₹32 crore worldwide. The film's success was so significant that it surpassed the domestic re-release earnings of international titles like Avatar and Bollywood classics like Sholay 3D. Superstar Rajinikanth's Padayappa saw a major resurgence in 2025. Released to commemorate his 75th birthday, the digitally remastered drama earned ₹11.5 crore in Tamil Nadu alone within its first week, eventually settling at a worldwide gross of ₹19 crore. In early 2026, Ajith Kumar's Mankatha joined the elite club. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Venkat Prabhu directorial grossed ₹16 crore globally. Despite being the third highest-grosser, it made headlines for recording a massive ₹4 crore opening day in India, briefly surpassing the pre-sales velocity of Ghilli in specific urban centers. Proving that the re-release craze isn't limited to action films, Thalapathy Vijay's Sachein made a grand return in April 2025. Distributed across 300+ screens internationally, the film grossed ₹13 crore. Trade reports highlighted a strong performance in France and Malaysia, while BookMyShow recorded over 59,000 ticket sales in Chennai alone, showcasing the enduring appeal of the film's music and comedy tracks.