Dulquer Salmaan’s much-awaited return to Malayalam cinema, I’m Game, hit theatres on Thursday but faced a series of reported screening issues on its opening day.
Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, the film has drawn complaints from moviegoers and theatre representatives on X, with posts flagging problems including delayed content delivery, missing subtitles, sound glitches and cancelled shows.
The film marks Dulquer’s return to Malayalam cinema after his 2023 release King of Kotha failed to make a major impact at the box office.
I’m Game faces screening issues
Several X users shared updates about problems during I’m Game screenings.
One viewer at a Kerala theatre posted a video showing a frame apparently stuck on screen while the audience could be heard complaining. The user also alleged that the sound was not working properly and that the film had jumped from the opening sequence to an interval scene.
Another user associated with Prasads Multiplex in Hyderabad claimed that the Malayalam version was playing as scheduled but without subtitles, while a Telugu morning show had been cancelled.
The proprietor of Vettri Theatres in Chennai also posted about the situation, saying the content had been received and loaded but that the subtitles for the morning show had not yet been confirmed.
Telugu, Tamil and Hindi shows reportedly affected
Several social media posts claimed that while Malayalam content had reached theatres, there were delays involving the Telugu, Tamil and Hindi versions.
One X user criticised the last-minute content delivery, alleging that several Telugu shows had been cancelled and that Tamil and Hindi screenings could also be affected.
The reports have not been independently verified, and the extent of the disruption across theatres remains unclear.
Could the issues affect I’m Game box office?
The reported release-day problems come at a crucial time for I’m Game, which had generated interest during its advance-booking phase.
The film’s bookings initially appeared strong after opening on September 1, but some social media users later claimed that advance sales had slowed.
According to Sacnilk figures cited in the report, I’m Game had collected ₹31 lakh from 633 shows in India by 11 am, with reported occupancy of 33%. Early figures can change substantially as the day progresses.
The release-day technical problems could add pressure to the film’s opening, particularly if cancelled or delayed shows result in lost screenings.
About I’m Game
I'm Game is directed by Nahas Hidhayath and co-written by Sajeer Baba, Ismail Aboobacker and Bilal Moidu.
The film is produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under the Wayfarer Films banner. Alongside Dulquer, the cast includes Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt and Parth Tiwari.
The film was originally scheduled for an Onam release on August 20 but was postponed to September 3.
It was expected to clash with Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa and Nivin Pauly’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. With I’m Game now in theatres, its box-office performance will become clearer once reviews and audience reactions emerge.