Valentine’s week usually brings romantic dramas to theatres, but this year audiences were offered something unusual. Tu Yaa Main, directed by Bejoy Nambiar and produced by Aanand L. Rai’s Colour Yellow Productions, is a survival thriller starring Adarsh Gourav, Shanaya Kapoor, and Parul Gulati. Released on February 13, 2026, the film is an official remake of the Thai cult hit The Pool.

Instead of candy‑floss romance, Tu Yaa Main throws its characters — and viewers — into a pit of danger, testing resilience against nature and circumstance. It’s a bold experiment for Bollywood, but one that comes with both strengths and shortcomings.

A Story of Survival

The narrative follows two social media influencers who find themselves trapped in an abandoned swimming pool with a crocodile. What begins as a quirky setup quickly spirals into a fight for survival.

The film explores themes of isolation, fear, and the human instinct to fight against impossible odds. Unlike typical thrillers that rely on fast pacing and spectacle, Tu Yaa Main attempts to build tension through claustrophobic settings and psychological stress.

Performances That Stand Out

• Adarsh Gourav delivers a committed performance, portraying fear and desperation convincingly.
• Shanaya Kapoor, in one of her early major roles, shows promise but occasionally falters in emotional depth.
• Parul Gulati adds dimension, though her role is limited.

The cast works hard to elevate the material, but the film’s structural weaknesses prevent their performances from fully shining.

Box Office Collections

Despite its novelty, the film has underperformed commercially:

• Day 1 (Friday): ₹0.72 crore gross, ₹0.60 crore net
• Day 2 (Saturday): ₹1.05 crore gross, ₹0.85 crore net
• Day 3 (Sunday): ₹1.53 crore gross, ₹1.35 crore net
• 3‑Day Total: ₹3.30 crore gross, ₹2.80 crore net across 3,440 shows
• Day 4: Struggling to cross the ₹5 crore mark worldwide

The film’s collections highlight how difficult it is for niche thrillers to survive in a star‑driven market, especially when released alongside Shahid Kapoor’s O’Romeo, which dominated Valentine’s week.

Strengths That Shine

• Unique Premise: A survival thriller with a crocodile is a bold departure from mainstream Hindi cinema.
• Atmosphere: The claustrophobic setting creates genuine tension in parts.
• Ambition: Bejoy Nambiar deserves credit for attempting something unconventional.

Where It Falters

• Weak Pacing: The narrative drags, with tension dissipating instead of escalating.
• Limited Setting: The pool, while conceptually strong, becomes monotonous over time.
• Box Office Clash: Releasing alongside O’Romeo proved disastrous, as audiences flocked to the bigger star‑driven film.

Audience Takeaway

For audiences, Tu Yaa Main is a curiosity rather than a must‑watch. Cinephiles may appreciate its ambition and genre experiment, but mainstream viewers found little to connect with.

It’s the kind of film that might gain cult status on OTT platforms, where niche audiences can appreciate its quirks without the pressure of box office numbers.

Final Verdict

Tu Yaa Main is a brave attempt at survival cinema in Bollywood. It thrives on its unique premise and occasional bursts of tension but falters in execution and box office performance.

Rating: 2.5/5 – Ambitious but uneven, a film that struggles to stay afloat commercially and narratively.