Fact check: Did ‘Kabali’ make Rs 250 crores on the first day?

Fact check: Did ‘Kabali’ make Rs 250 crores on the first day?
Fact check: Did ‘Kabali’ make Rs 250 crores on the first day?
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Anyone in the film industry will tell you that the success of a film lies in the opening weekend. Collections on the first three days can make or break a film. The most anticipated Tamil film of the year, superstar Rajinikanth’s “Kabali” opened to mixed reviews on Friday. So, when producer S Thanu claimed the film had raked in Rs. 250 crore on its first day, it raised many an eyebrow. Did Thalaivar really break the box-office record?

“Kabali” was screened in more than 12,000 screens in India, UK and Malaysia. Tickets were sold out in most theatres where the film was running.

In a statement released on Friday, Thanu said, “In India, the film has earned Rs 250 crore, which includes Rs 100 crore from Tamil Nadu and Rs 150 crore from places outside the state in India.”

But many have questioned the producer’s claim and wondered if it is possible for a film to earn as much in a single day with Tamil Nadu having a cap of Rs. 120 on tickets.  

Writing for Firstpost, Sreedhar Pillai pegged the first day collection to be Rs 70 crores worldwide.

The report adds:

In Andhra and Telangana, where the dubbed Telugu version of “Kabali” opened simultaneously with the Tamil release, the film is said to have netted around Rs 9.5 crore In Karnataka, the Tamil version of the film is said to have netted around Rs 5.10 crore, the highest ever for a Tamil film in the state. In Kerala, the film earned around Rs 3 crore on day one. This brings “Kabali’s” total earnings in India to Rs 39.1 cr on day one of its release.

A full breakup of numbers:

US and Canada- Rs 18.3 crores

Tamil Nadu- Rs 21 to 22 crores

Karnataka- Rs 5 crores

Kerala- Rs 3 crores

AP and Telangana- 9 to 10 crores

North India- Rs 5.2 crores

Besides this, the film is also being screened in more than 150 screens in Malaysia. But collection figures for Singapore and Malaysia are yet to come in.

Cine Galaxy, Kabali’s US distributor tweeted, “$2.7 Million 1st Day Sensation Record. Thanks 2 all SuuperStar Fans, movie lovers, friends & well...”

Speaking to Firstpost, Thanu said "The official collection figures are still being awaited. ‘Kabali’ saw best ever opening collection an Indian actor has ever had abroad. There is only one superstar and that is Rajinikanth."

Calling the figures claimed by Thanu "highly fantastical", a report in The Indian Express adds:

To put it into perspective, a multiplex ticket in north India is priced anywhere between Rs 350-450 on a Friday and Salman Khan’s “Sultan” — which was released in 4500 screens — earned Rs 36.54 crore. Even though Kabali has released in almost double the number of screens, its ticket prices are also much lower.

Sources in the industry say the collections dropped on Saturday and are expected to pick up on Sunday. 

The film reportedly made box office history in the US by making it the highest viewership for an Indian movie. 

“#Kabali [Tamil+Telugu] sets new benchmarks in preview shows in USA-Canada… Takes an EPIC start on Thu: $ 1,925,379 [₹ 12.93 cr]. SUPERBBB,” Taran Adarsh tweeted.

With the film expected to rake in over Rs 100 crore over the weekend, it appears producer Thanu’s Rs. 250 crore claim is an exaggeration. But what remains a fact is that Rajinikanth’s “Kabali” will not be a “Lingaa 2”.

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