Critical reception Srimanthudu received positive reviews from critics. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of
The Hindu called
Srimanthudu a "star-driven film with a strong plot that's worth a watch". Dundoo further stated, "This isn't
Ashutosh Gowariker Swades, where
Shah Rukh Khan finds his true calling in a much more realistic manner. The social consciousness comes coated with commercially viable ingredients and still, makes for an engaging watch".
Sify called
Srimanthudu a "right mix of Mahesh's emotional and class performance, Shruthi's charisma, fine storyline and all materials that are needed for a good entertainer". The reviewer appreciated Siva for not writing a separate comedy track to distract from the story. Karthik Pasupulate of
The Times of India rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote, "You could say this movie is Mahesh Babu's
Swades (the 2004 SRK film) albeit a little dumbed down. Or a
Mirchi (the
Prabhas film) rehashed. Yet there can be no denying that
Srimanthudu achieves more than any big ticket Tollywood potboiler has in more in that last decade , for the simple reason that it is a drama made like one." Sethumadhavan N of the
Bangalore Mirror rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote, "Make no mistake,
Srimanthudu is certainly a big commercial entertainer and has most of the elements needed for the same. But to deliver a total commercial which doesn't have a great plot and yet remaining engaging all the way isn't easy at all. That is where the writing by Siva emerges triumphant." Suresh Kavirayani of
Deccan Chronicle rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and wrote, "Though there are a few hiccups,
Srimanthudu is a good emotional drama with excellent performance by Mahesh Babu, supported by good content with neat dialogues". Hemanth Kumar C. R. of
Outlook India rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and stated, "In an industry where weaving a story to suit the image of an A-list star is common, Mahesh Babu's latest,
Srimanthudu, takes a different course. The film might lack a big-starrer firepower, but by letting go of such conventions, what we get in the end is a sensible film full of heart and humanity." Karthik Keramalu of
IBNLive rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and stated "All in all,
Srimanthudu is a notch above the so-so model of commercial films. It'd have been neater had the gap between the intent and the content of the film narrowed down further". Kirubhakar Purushothaman of
India Today rated the film 2.5 out of 5 and wrote, "There are many cliches throughout the story, but still
Srimanthudu manages to hold your attention. Though
Srimanthudu has failed to serve anything new, he is rich and complete. When the film ends, everyone in the film is happy. As are Mahesh Babu's fans." Suhas Yellapuntala of
The New Indian Express wrote, "The director showcases power, greed, corruption as well as regression, hope and agony, in equal measure. However, while Mahesh Babu effortlessly sails through the movie,
Srimanthudu is clichéd, unimaginative and stretched beyond its potential". He added, "
Srimanthudu would have made for much better viewing if it had been cut shorter by about half an hour. At the end of it, watching the film becomes an endurance rather than an experience".
Box office Global Registering an occupancy of 200% across the globe on its first day,
Srimanthudu collected approximately a distributor share of 200cr at the AP/Nizam box office and 50cr from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, the rest of India and overseas markets, taking its first day global total share to 350cr. With this, it managed to break the records set by
Attarintiki Daredi (2013) and
S/O Satyamurthy (2015) and became the second-highest Telugu film opener of the year. Trade analyst Trinath told Indo-Asian News Service that the first day global gross stood at 310 million. The film grossed 1000 million on its second day at the global box office, taking its two-day global total gross to 5000 million. With this, it became the second-fastest Telugu film of the year after
Baahubali: The Beginning to do so. The film managed to collect a total net of 2000 million and a distributor share of 1000 million in two days at the global box office. The film grossed 250 million on its third day, taking its three-day global total gross to 750 million, thus breaking the records set by Telugu films other than
Baahubali: The Beginning. The film grossed a total of 1.0125 billion in its first week at the global box office. The film grossed 220 million in its second weekend, taking its ten-day global total gross to 1.23 billion. The net and share figures for the ten days stood at 980 million and 826.3 million, respectively. The film grossed 150 million during the weekdays, taking its second week total to 370 million and two-week global total gross to 1.38 billion. The two-week global net and distributor share figures stood at 1.1 billion and 900 million, respectively. Witnessing a decline of 50% in its trade due to new releases, the film grossed 180 million in its third week, taking its three-week global total gross to 1.56 billion, thus becoming the fourth highest grossing south Indian film of all time. The two-week global net and distributor share figures stood at 1.25 billion and 960 million, respectively. Witnessing a further drop of 50% in its trade, the film grossed 95 million in its fourth week, taking its 28-day global total gross to 1.655 billion. On 25 September 2015, it completed a 50-day run in 185 centres, which was considered a record. It also completed its 100-day run in 15 centres on 14 November 2015.
Srimanthudu grossed approximately 200 crore in its lifetime run at the global box office, It also became the second Telugu film to cross the US$2 million mark, after
Baahubali: The Beginning. In its second weekend,
Srimanthudu collected US$342,010 from 102 screens at the United States box office thus taking its ten-day total to US$2,654,658 (173.5 million). In ten days, the film collected US$8,036 (0.52 million) from two screens at the Canada box office and approximately 70 million at the United Arab Emirates box office. In its second weekend,
Srimanthudu collected 4,764 from two screens in Malaysia, taking its ten-day total to 15,178 (0.24 million). With this, it became the second-highest grossing Telugu film in the international market by collecting a total of approximately US$3,735,139 (242.2 million). In its third weekend,
Srimanthudu stood at the second place in the Indian films at the United States box office. It collected US$94,498 (6.257 million) from 46 screens. The United States box office total stood at US$2,820,214 (188 million), which was considered quite a remarkable achievement for a South Indian film. After losing 49% of screens due to new releases,
Srimanthudu collected US$27,647 from 24 screens in its fourth weekend. The United States box office total stood at US$2,869,560 (190.7 million). By then, the film's screening had ended in Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and other key international markets.
Srimanthudu lost eighteen screens to
Bhale Bhale Magadivoy and other new releases, thus witnessing a drop of 75% in its business. Collecting US$7,538 from six screens, the film's 31-day United States box office total stood at US$2,882,809 (192.6 million), with a per-screen average of US$1,256. == Accolades ==