Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana has taken a decent start at the Hindi box office, with Day 1 collections expected to be around Rs. 45 crores. However, the film has fallen short of the huge opening expected from a project of this scale.
The estimated all-language India total stands at around Rs. 65 crores net, with Kannada contributing Rs. 9-10 crores, Telugu Rs. 6 crores, Tamil Rs. 3 crores and Malayalam Rs. 1.5 crores.
There were expectations that Ramayana would cross Rs. 100 crores net on Day 1, given its massive release across more than 24,000 shows in India. But the pre-Diwali release has affected its momentum.
Ramayana is expected to collect Rs. 130-140 crores gross worldwide on Day 1. The expectation was at least Rs. 200 crores.
Average promotional assets and weak music failed to create enough buzz, while the pre-Diwali release timing made things worse. Overseas business, however, is stronger. The film is expected to record the biggest opening day overseas for a Hindi film, surpassing Dhurandhar 2, helped by its release in the Gulf markets.
Friday is likely to see a big drop, while Saturday and Sunday may remain moderate due to pre-Diwali festivities and Lakshmi Puja. Monday is the big day, as the post-Diwali holiday usually gives Hindi films a massive boost. Ramayana will need a spectacular jump, with an all-language India target of at least Rs. 100 crores net on Monday. It will then need to maintain that momentum for at least two weeks.
With a reported worldwide breakeven target of Rs. 1,500 crores gross, the opening has made the road tougher. But all is not lost. For a film of this scale releasing before Diwali, the real test is not just Day 1 records but its lifetime business. All eyes are now on Monday.
