Mammootty’s international dominance: Kalamkaval becomes actor's No. 1 overseas hit post-COVID

Mammootty's neo-noir crime thriller Kalamkaval has surpassed Bheeshma Parvam to become his highest-grossing overseas film in the post-COVID era, earning Rs 38.15 crore in international markets within 15 days of its release. The film has achieved a worldwide gross of Rs 79.03 crore on a controlled budget of Rs 29 crore, establishing itself as a commercial success for the Malayalam superstar.

Strong Overseas Performance Drives Success

The film's overseas performance has outpaced its domestic collections, with international markets contributing significantly to its total earnings. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Kalamkaval collected Rs 34.65 crore net in India through its 14th day, translating to Rs 40.88 crore gross domestically. The Middle East region, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, provided substantial support, with the film crossing the $3 million mark at the GCC box office by its eighth day.

Kalamkaval now leads Mammootty's post-pandemic overseas rankings, surpassing Bheeshma Parvam's Rs 36.5 crore, Kannur Squad's Rs 34.5 crore, and Turbo's Rs 32 crore. The film ranks as the fifth-highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2025 globally, trailing Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, L2: Empuraan, Thudarum, and Dies Irae.

Third Week Amid New Competition

Released on December 5, 2025, and directed by debutant Jithin K. Jose, Kalamkaval entered its third week facing competition from Dileep and Mohanlal's Bha Bha Ba, which opened on December 18. According to industry analyst AB George, Kalamkaval recorded a Day 1 global opening of approximately Rs 15.66 crore, while Bha Bha Ba collected around Rs 14.82 crore on its opening day.

The film stars Vinayakan, Rajisha Vijayan, Gibin Gopinath, Gayatri Arun, and Shruti Ramachandran in key roles. Despite slowing collections in its second week, with Day 14 earning around Rs 50 lakh in India, industry observers anticipate the film will comfortably cross the Rs 40 crore mark overseas before concluding its theatrical run.