WAR 2 Bombs Badly: NTR’s Golden Streak Broken

During the Independence Day weekend, Indian theatres witnessed the release of two highly anticipated films, Coolie and War 2. Both carried massive hype and attracted nationwide attention, but the final response was underwhelming. Coolie fared relatively better, while War 2 faced sharp criticism.

Despite the mixed reviews, Coolie created history with a record breaking opening. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Rajinikanth, the film collected more than Rs. 375 crores worldwide in just four days. The festive holiday brought massive crowds, helping it set new benchmarks in Kollywood.

War 2, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, opened slower but managed Rs. 275 crores worldwide gross, supported largely by the Hindi belt. However, its performance in Telugu states was disappointing. It collected only Rs. 60 crores in four days, far below expectations, creating heavy losses for distributors.

The setback was significant for Jr. NTR, who had enjoyed more than a decade of success. His last major failure was Rabhasa in 2014, and War 2 ended his eleven year winning streak. Trade experts already classify the film as a disaster in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Coolie showed dominance in Tamil Nadu with Rs. 96 crores in four days, marking Rajinikanth’s best ever opening weekend. It performed decently in Telugu states with Rs. 51.5 crores but slipped by Sunday. Kerala and Karnataka too saw steep drops, while Hindi markets contributed only Rs. 20 crores.

Internationally, Coolie grossed $16.85 million (Rs. 147.5 crores) over the weekend. Yet, concerns remain about its long run as Sunday witnessed a sharp decline. Without strong weekday numbers, even the historic start may not be enough to secure comfortable profits.

For both films, the real test lies beyond the holiday break. War 2 appears unlikely to recover given negative reports and poor regional response. Coolie has a chance if it sustains momentum, as no major new releases are lined up in the coming weeks.

The Independence Day weekend ended as a tale of contrasts. Coolie achieved record openings but faces the challenge of maintaining pace. War 2, despite star power and high expectations, has turned into a major disaster, particularly in the Telugu states.