Keeping up with the Pongal traditions, there was a buffet of films that released on Friday, with something for everybody. Festivities aside, Suriya and Vikram’s long awaited films released amid much fanfare. And of course, action, masala and drama were guaranteed. Among the Hindi releases, Anurag Kashyap and Saif Ali Khan’s films were competing with each other.
Here’s a look at their performance so far:
Thaana Serndha Koottam
Thaana Serndha Koottam, titled Gang in Telugu, stars Suriya. The film is directed by Vignesh ShivN, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The film also stars Keerthy Suresh, Suresh Menon, Ramya Krishnan, and Senthil. The story is inspired from Akshay Kumar’s Special 26.
The film had a solid start worldwide. According to the International Business Times, the film has collected over Rs 16 crores on its opening day. The estimations state that the movie collected Rs 7 crores in Tamil Nadu, Rs 1.9 crores in Kerala, over Rs 1.1 crores in Karnataka and around Rs 6 crores from other parts of the country and the world. The second-day collections worldwide is pegged at Rs 10 crores.
However, cinema tracker Ramesh Bala states that the film opened to a decent Ra 74 lakhs at the box office in Chennai.
#TSK takes @Suriya_offl ‘s Career best opening in #Chennai city on Day 1 – ₹ 74 Lakhs..
A Huge Opening weekend is ahead as #Pongal holidays have started.. pic.twitter.com/4s8F5SD1vO
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) January 13, 2018
TSK has so far grossed Rs 2.27 crores in Chennai alone. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the film’s performance in the international market.
Tamil film #ThaanaaSerndhaKoottam #TSK goes from strength to strength in USA… EXCELLENT HOLD, despite multiple new releases…
Thu previews $ 42,517
Fri $ 86,499
Sat $ 123,700
Total: $ 252,716 [₹ 1.61 cr]@Rentrak— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 14, 2018
Read Silverscreen‘s review of Thaana Serndha Koottam here.
Sketch
Starring Vikram, Tamannaah, Soori, Radha Ravi, Sriman, RK Suresh, and others, with music by SS Thaman, the film’s reception by movie goers has mostly been lukewarm, with many expressing disappointment.
The film is currently ranked number 2 at the Chennai box office, having made Rs 1.30 crores during the Pongal weekend. The film has made around Rs 40 lakhs in the USA box office.
Read Silverscreen‘s review of Sketch here.
Gulaebaghavali
Recommended
Gulaebaghavali, starring Prabhu Deva and Hansika Motwani, is a black comedy with Revathy, Mansoor Ali Khan in pivotal roles. The film takes its name from an MGR film that released in 1955. Kalyaan (of Kadha Solla Porom fame) is at the helm of this film that is produced by KJR Studios.
The film currently ranks three in Chennai’s box office, having made Rs 43 lakhs on its opening day in the city.
Mukkabaaz
Anurag Kashyap’s film Mukkabaaz revolves around the struggles of a boxer named Shravan from a lower caste and gives a peek into cow vigilantism, caste politics, and how it affects his profession and love life. The film has Vineet Kumar Singh in the lead, along with Zoya Hussain, Ravi Kishan, and Jimmy Shergill, with some peppy music by Nucleya, Prashant Pillai, and Rachita Arora.
The film which premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, has received mostly positive reviews in India. It performed decently at the box office too, making Rs 4.04 crores during the weekend, and opening to an average of Rs 82 lakhs on Friday.
#Mukkabaaz Fri 82 lakhs, Sat 1.51 cr, Sun 1.71 cr. Total: ₹ 4.04 cr. India biz.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 15, 2018
Read Silverscreen‘s review of Mukkabaaz here.
Kaalakaandi
Starring Saif Ali Khan, the film is a black comedy, about a man who is diagnosed with stomach cancer and learns that he doesn’t have a lot of time in hand. With additional storylines and differing timelines, Kaalakaandi gives us a melange of characters flitting in and out of the screen – drug-addled adults, lot of sex, and a foul-mouthed gangster.
The film also stars Kunal Roy Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vijay Raaz, Deepak Dobriyal, Isha Talwar, Shenaz Treasurywala, Nary Singh & Akshay Oberoi, and is directed by Akshat Verma.
Praised for its quirky storyline and ending, Kaalakaandi made Rs 1.25 crores on its opening day in India, subsequently making Rs 3.85 crores over the weekend. The film is expected to fare better at the box office thanks to social media and word-of-mouth publicity.
#Kaalakaandi Fri 1.25 cr, Sat 1.20 cr, Sun 1.40 cr. Total: ₹ 3.85 cr. India biz.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 15, 2018
Read Silverscreen‘s review of Kaalakaandi here.