India, Sept. 6 -- Big-budget films may dominate the box office, but the streak of low-budget films winning over theatre audiences remains strong in 2026. The year has further reinforced a trend seen for years: audiences will turn up for films that connect with them, no matter how big or small the budget. This follows the success of last year's surprise small-budget hits such as Saiyaara, which showed that strong audience connect can outweigh star power. This year, Hanuman Ansh (still running), made for around Rs.2 crore, has crossed Rs.75 crore in India, while Tamil films such as Youth and Thaai Kizhavi have also emerged as successes and Hollywood's Obsession, made for just $750,000 (around Rs.6.5 crore), has crossed $426 million (around Rs.3,700 crore) worldwide. Over the years, such numbers raise a bigger question: are audiences increasingly prioritising stories over big cast? Trade analyst Taran Adarsh believes audiences are reshaping the box office. "Content is king and audiences are king makers," he says, citing Hanuman Ansh, which succeeded despite a first-time director, actor and minimal promotion. "The film is working only because the audiences have become its brand ambassadors," he adds. Trade analyst Atul Mohan attributes the change partly to audiences being exposed to diverse options through OTT. "The same routine won't work now. Cinema has to change now," he says, noting that viewers are increasingly looking beyond familiar formulas....