Rajinikanth’s Kabali has broken records and brought in big bucks with its day 1 box office collections. The movie, also starring Radhika Apte and Dhansika, was a big draw on the BO as its shows started even before dawn on Friday. People were lining up in front of theatres for the 5am shows.
Kabali released in more than 12,000 screens across India, as well as in the UK and Malaysia, which have a sizeable Tamil-speaking population. The first day booking across south India was a sold out and no ticket was to be had for love or money.
The movie has collected around Rs. 48 crores at the Indian box office despite mixed reviews and has now emerged as the highest grossing Indian film beating Salman Khan’s recently released Sultan which collected Rs. 36.5 crore from the domestic box office on the opening day.
Rajesh Thadani, a Mumbai-based distributor, said: “The film has made an outstanding first day collection of around Rs 48 crore. But since the review is not that great, there will be a drop in its collection from Monday.”
“In Tamil Nadu, ‘Kabali’ collected a whopping Rs 21.5 crore from its first day. Since the film was exempted from entertainment tax, it managed to register such a big opening,” trade analyst Trinath said.
In Tamil Nadu, “Kabali” superseded the previous best opening record held by Ajith Kumar’s “Vedalam”, which had collected around Rs 15 crore, said another trade analyst.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Telugu dubbed version also got a good start.
“The start has been phenomenal with Rs 13.5 crore. It has to be seen whether the film can sustain the momentum through the first week. It was due to the unprecedented advance bookings and Rajinikanth factor, the film managed to register good opening,” Trinath said.
Kabali has also set new benchmarks in the USA and Canada by earning a whopping Rs. 12.93 cr. in preview shows. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted, #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!
The movie, which saw a tremendous opening at the Indian box office, also dominated the box office in the international market emerging as number 1 in Malaysia, number 3 in USA-Canada and number 10 in UK. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted, #Kabali [Tamil+Telugu] opening in international markets: Malaysia: No 1 [Thu+Fri] USA-Canada: No 3 [Thu pre] UK: No 10 [Thu+Fri]@Rentrak
The film has reportedly earned Rs 200 crore already with the sale of satellite rights etc. It also created box office history in the US by registering the highest viewership for an Indian film premiere. This means at least one record made by Baahubali and Salman Khan’s Sultan has already been shattered.
“With $1.45M Premier Gross sofar #Kabali’s officially All-Time #1 Premier grosser in the US beating #Baahubali @superstarrajini,” TamilBoxOffice tweeted on Friday. Kabali’s US distributor Cine Galaxy also tweeted, “#Kabali @ $1,317,288 as of 4 pm EST Heading towards a record premiere day.”
According to reports, Bahubali earned $1,382,076 from its US premiere while Sultan brought in $786,194. Given the frenzy at ticket windows in India, more than a few records will be shattered by Rajinikanth soon. (Kabali movie review: This Rajinikanth film is a drag)
