Nandamuri Balakrishna returned to theatres with Akhanda 2 after its postponement from December 5. The film opened with decent paid premieres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Early signs suggest a steady start at the box office.
Reports indicate that the Nizam premieres may have generated around ₹2.3 crore. This is a solid number, especially after last minute cancellations caused by a court order. Numbers from Andhra Pradesh are expected soon.
The premiere reviews were mixed, but this seems to have little effect on today’s ticket bookings. Hourly bookings remain strong and the film is showing positive traction.
BookMyShow hourly trending is close to 21K tickets per hour. This is considered a strong sign. If this trend continues for a couple of days, the momentum could help the film significantly.
However, discouraging reviews from reputed critics may impact the weekend. This Balayya film will rely mainly on its action content to keep crowds coming. Some feel the presentation could have been stronger had Director Boyapati been more cautious.
The film is expected to start well on opening day. The weekend performance now depends on audience turnout. This will be a crucial test for the film.
Akhanda 2 is the costliest project of Balakrishna’s career. Expectations are naturally high. For the film to enter a safe zone, it must emerge as the biggest hit in Balayya’s career.
