The weekend results of Eid releases are in and while the numbers are on soft at top but it’s the runner up that grab the eyeballs. Salman Khan starrer Tubelight led the charge, well below the studio and trade expectations followed by Allu Arjun’s Duvvada Jagannadham which is on way to become one of the biggest Tollywood grosser. This will add to the lead of Tollywood over Bollywood which is on its all time high Cume, thanks to Baahubali The Conclusion, with half year to go.
Beginning with weekend topper, Tubelight brought in ₹83.4cr (₹60.5cr Nett) in 3 days and is looking at ₹107-110cr 4 days Holiday weekend. The results are disappointing for this big budgeted Tentpole with a rate card of ₹138cr from the Indian Distributors. Film earned a Wimpy ₹31cr Distributor Share over the weekend leaving out a big billion and plus to break even. Film was affected by the Ramadan period in few parts but even accounting for it numbers are average when compared to Salman Khan’s track record and price attached to film.
It is rare that the Biggest film of year open to such response with none in last 20 years. There had been big priced bombs like Dilwale, Tees Maar Khan and many others but all of them opened well and ultimately going down due to reception but here start is low and reception is equally bad. A bad marketing campaign is held responsible for such result because whatever the reception come start is must.
Speaking of International numbers, they were simply disastrous at $3.1mn or ₹20cr on 1350 locations. This includes $928k in North America, $1.09mn in Middle East, $345k in Oceania, $340k in United Kingdom and $360k in Rest of World. This all adds upto ₹103.4cr globally which is lowest for a Khan film since Jai Ho (2014).
Securing second place was Telugu film Duvvada Jagannadham with ₹53.78cr weekend in India. Film opened to a career best numbers for Allu Arjun on Friday followed by brilliant holds over the next two days. Film was next only to Baahubali films on Saturday and Sunday at various stations, scoring over the two at few. Sort of hold film showed, it’s heading to become 2nd Allu Arjun film to gross ₹100cr in India. Film grossed another $1.28mn or ₹8.2cr in Overseas for a global Cume of ₹61.98cr.
There will be a good flow of releases from now onwards till mid October. Next week Transformers 5 will be releasing in India hoping to cash in the underperformance of Tubelight.