18 May,2026 02:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
L- RJ Balaji (Pic/X); R- Suriya in Karuppu
RJ Balaji, director and actor of the recently released Karuppu, has appealed to moviegoers and theatre staff. The film, which stars Suriya and Trisha in the lead, was released in theatres on May 15. The film has been well-received and is turning to be a blockbuster at the box office. Amid the film's success, RJ Balaji has penned a note of gratitude along with a gentle request.
On Monday, RJ Balaji took to his social media handle to pen a note to all movie goers and theatre staff. "To every single one of you who has walked into theatres and embraced Karuppu: THANK YOU! The love you've shown this film has been overwhelming, and beyond anything we imagined when we set out to make it," he wrote.
Balaji also referred to some audience members experiencing divinity while watching the film. "We're hearing stories from across Tamil Nadu and beyond - of audiences cheering, weeping, and in many instances, being so deeply moved that they've experienced something far greater than cinema. Some have felt divine intervention within the theatre itself. To us, this is the highest blessing our film could have received," he mentioned.
He further made a request to handle such audience members with care and sensitivity. "If you happen to be seated near someone who appears to be touched by divine energy during a screening, please be kind. Please be present. Help them with water, with space, with a steady hand. Inform the theatre staff so they can be cared for with dignity. A moment of compassion from a stranger is, in itself, a sacred act."
He further wrote, "To our exhibitors and theatre partners across Tamil Nadu, we humbly request you to keep your staff prepared and sensitive to these moments. Please treat every such moment with the reverence it deserves. Karuppu belongs to the people now. The faith you've brought into the theatre is what has made this film what it is. Let us protect that faith together, with grace."
In the film, Suriya plays Saravanan, a lawyer who takes the form of the local deity Karuppusamy. The story follows a helpless father and daughter who are robbed and trapped in a corrupt legal system.
According to Sacnilk, Karuppu earned Rs 68 crore in India net collections in its first three days. Its India gross stands at Rs 78.75 crore, while overseas markets have contributed Rs 42 crore, taking the film's worldwide gross to Rs 120.75 crore after its opening weekend. With this, the film crossed the Rs 100-crore mark in just three days.
