Officer On Duty box office collection in UAE and India: Kunchacko Boban's thriller off to a strong start

Dubai: Kunchacko Boban’s latest police procedural, Officer on Duty, is picking up steam at the box office in the UAE and Indian cinemas.

According to local distributors, the movie also starring Priyamani and Jagadish, saw a footfall of 46,223 in this region and collected Rs90 million net in Indian within four days of its release. Directed by Jithu Asharef, the film re-instated Kunchacko as a bankable star.

The movie, which earned 3.5 stars in the Gulf News review, is a gritty police procedural with flawed character

In Officer on Duty, what begins as a fake jewelry pawning investigation unravels into a disturbing world of sexual crimes against young women.

The film introduces Kunchacko Boban as Hari Shanker, a troubled cop reinstated after a demotion for violent behavior. The first few minutes establish his brash and questionable methods, including a scene where he physically assaults a suspect—a pregnant woman—to extract a confession. His fractured personal life, including a tense marriage with his wife (played by a stellar Priyamani) and a strained bond with his child, adds further complexity to his character.

The first half is taut and gripping, setting up a mix of deeply flawed yet relatable characters. Veteran actor Jagadish, who plays a helpless father and bus conductor, delivers an emotionally charged performance as a man caught in desperate circumstances, triggering the film’s central conflict.