Dragon hero reveals 3 key elements behind his Box-Office success; Will these winning formulas work for future Films?

Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dragon crosses ₹100 crore worldwide, blending love, friendship & family emotions into a perfect blockbuster formula that clicks with all audiences.

Written by Shanaz Syed , Journalist

Published on Mar 04, 2025 | 04:54 PM IST | 25.1K

Credit: Pradeep Ranganathan Instagram

Roaring from the YouTube to silver screen, Pradeep Ranganathan has done it again! After the massive success of his debut film Love Today, the young filmmaker-turned-actor has struck gold at the box office with Dragon now. Opening to phenomenal performance, Ashwath Marimuthu directorial Dragon has already crossed ₹100 crore gross from the worldwide box office. The film proved that Pradeep’s brand of storytelling and acting continues to resonate with audiences.

In a recent interview, the film's leading man Pradeep Ranganathan revealed the three key ingredients that have made Dragon such a blockbuster. He says, "love, friendship, and family emotion are the primary elements that made Dragon a blockbuster". While these may seem like standard elements in most of the commercial cinema we see, the way Dragon blends them with fresh storytelling and high-energy execution has made all the difference.

From Love Today to Dragon, romance has been a vital component of Pradeep’s films. In Dragon, the love story isn’t just a minor story plot but a crucial element of the protagonist’s journey. The film captures modern-day relationships with a mix of humor, realism, and drama, making it relatable to Gen Z moviegoers. As a co-writer, Pradeep understands that love stories, when done right, create a strong emotional connection with viewers— definitely that could be the primary reason Dragon has seen repeat audiences inside theatres.

Another key factor behind Dragon’s success is the deep bond of friendship portrayed in the film. Pradeep has once again captured the essence of camaraderie, adding heartwarming and entertaining moments that keep audiences engaged. Whether it's comedic exchanges or emotional sacrifices, the theme of friendship between Pradeep's character and his friends, his friendship with office boss and college principal, strengthens the storytelling, and also resulting in a strong emotional payoff.

While Dragon has youthful energy, its strong family-oriented moments have made it a complete entertainer appealing to all sections of the audience. The father-son bond, in particular, has been widely appreciated, adding layers of emotion to the action-packed narrative. At the same time, the way mothers usually behave and react to their son's demands are well portrayed. By striking a balance between mass appeal and family sentiment, Dragon turned into a film that works for all sections of the audience.

With Dragon roaring at the box office, the big question is— can this winning formula work for all future films? While love, friendship, and family emotions are timeless themes, their execution is what makes the difference. For now, Pradeep Ranganathan has proven that his storytelling magic is no fluke, delivering back-to-back blockbusters with Love Today and Dragon.