Tamil Nadu Box Office: Will Pradeep Ranganathan's Dragon impress audiences theatrically after blockbuster response to Love Today?

Pradeep Ranganathan returns with Dragon nearly three years after Love Today. With high expectations, the film faces box office competition from Dhanush's Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam.

Written by Seema Sinha , Entertainment Journalist

Published on Feb 19, 2025 | 07:01 PM IST | 71.3K

Picture Courtesy: Kalpathi S. Suresh

Pradeep Ranganathan returns to the big screen on Friday, February 21, with Dragon, his much-anticipated Tamil-language coming-of-age comedy-drama, nearly three years after the blockbuster Love Today. Given the actor-producer’s soaring popularity, expectations are high, and the film’s performance at the Tamil Nadu box office is eagerly awaited.

The film, directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, follows the journey of a troubled student who, after a devastating breakup, abandons his studies and finds himself entangled in financial fraud in his pursuit of wealth and power. With a gripping premise, Dragon promises to be an engaging mix of drama, comedy, and emotions—elements that audiences have come to expect from Pradeep’s storytelling style. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Anupama Parameswaran and Kayadu Lohar, alongside George Maryan, Indumathy Manikandan, K. S. Ravikumar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mysskin, and more.

Adding to the buzz is the movie’s music, composed by Leon James, which enhances its youthful appeal. With cinematography by Niketh Bommi, Dragon has all the components of a compelling theatrical experience.

However, Dragon will not have a solo run at the box office. It is set to clash with Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK), directed by Dhanush. Produced under Wunderbar Films and RK Productions, NEEK features a fresh ensemble cast, including Pavish, Matthew Thomas, Anikha Surendran, Priya Prakash Varrier, and seasoned actor R. Sarathkumar.

The clash is significant as both films cater to the same audience demographic (youth), with minor characteristics differentiating them. While Dragon leans toward drama with comedic undertones, NEEK is expected to be a lighthearted romantic entertainer. Dhanush’s directorial credibility could pose stiff competition for Dragon, making the box office battle intriguing.

With Love Today setting the bar high and even inspiring a Hindi remake, Loveyapa, Pradeep Ranganathan has a lot riding on the upcoming film. If the offering strikes a chord with audiences, it could reinforce his credibility as a lead and further establish him as a bankable star in Tamil cinema.

Dhanush, meanwhile, has a Bollywood comeback scheduled in the form of Tere Ishq Mein, a spiritual sequel to Raanjhanaa, but that is to be dealt with in November.

Right now, all eyes are on the battle between him and Ranganathan, and the latter, for whatever it’s worth, has more pressure on his shoulders due to the aforementioned reasons.