The film was released in India on 7 October 2016. Made on a budget of ₹25 crore, it became the first film in the Malayalam film industry to earn more than ₹100 crore and ₹150 crore, and was the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever until 2019 and the third highest-grossing South Indian film of 2016. Pulimurugan is also one of the most watched Malayalam movies ever in Kerala state.The movie has recorded theater footfalls of around 7.5 million during its run in Kerala alone.[5]