Prabhas' Adipurush to storm box office in Telugu states, Hindi belt; struggle in Tamil Nadu, Kerala

Prabhas' Adipurush is set to take a huge opening at the Indian box office.

Prabhas in Adipurush.

Telugu superstar Prabhas' much-anticipated film Adipurush is all set to make a splash at the box office this Friday. With advance bookings showing promising numbers, the film's visual effects (VFX) quality, which was initially a concern, seems to have been overcome. The movie's teaser received a negative response due to its unique live-animation style, prompting the filmmakers to make adjustments and rework the special effects.

The release of the first trailer earlier this year garnered mostly positive reactions, with the filmmakers enhancing the film's colour palette and incorporating more VFX shots . The songs, particularly the title track Jai Shri Ram, have become a hit with the audience. Given Prabhas' massive fan following in the Telugu states and the popularity of the Ramayana mythology in the Hindi belt, Adipurush is expected to witness a tremendous opening in these regions. Additionally, the film is poised to make a significant impact in Karnataka.

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However, the response from moviegoers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala has been less enthusiastic compared to their counterparts in neighbouring states. In Tamil Nadu, the film has not generated much anticipation or connection with the local audience.

"In Tamil Nadu, there is no big anticipation for the film. I think people didn't relate to that kind of movie from the beginning itself. It doesn't feel local. We can't connect to it," expressed Rakesh Gowthaman, manager of Chennai's popular twin-screen cinemas Vettri Theatres. He further explained that Tamil Nadu resonates more with Lord Shiva, Pillaiyar (Lord Ganesh), and Lord Murugan, which might explain the lack of enthusiasm for Adipurush.

The film faces tough competition in Tamil Nadu, sharing screen space with movies like Por Thozhil, Bommai, and The Flash. Despite this, the Hindi belt has a different perspective, with strong expectations for a successful opening at the box office.

"The advanced bookings are good. I'm expecting a good start at the box office. I will be happy if the Hindi movie opens at Rs 18-20 crore," said producer and film trade expert Girish Johar. He further predicted that Adipurush would secure a position among the top ten all-time openings, even as a non-holiday release.

Girish Johar also emphasized the significance of positive reviews on the film's opening day, given that shows in India start as early as 5 AM. The movie's box office potential in the Hindi belt could be affected if reviews turn out to be negative, as high ticket prices lead to stringent expectations from viewers.

Meanwhile, Deepak, a Hyderabad-based trade expert, holds a more optimistic view, stating that Adipurush has the potential to become a hit regardless of reviews.

"Unless it's very bad, I think it won't stop (at the box office). When a film opens at this level of occupancy, it rarely crashes. Even if it gets mixed reactions, it will continue to maintain a good hold at the box office, at least for the first two weeks," explained Deepak, citing the example of Brahmastra, which performed well despite average reviews and achieved a global gross of Rs 425 crore.

Deepak believes there is a substantial market for spectacle movies, indicating that Adipurush could surpass expectations and potentially reach a worldwide gross of up to Rs 600 crore from ticket sales, regardless of critical reception.

Currently, the Telugu states remain the biggest market for "Adipurush," and the movie's fate in other parts of the country will be determined by the critical reception it receives.

"The bookings are great. It will take a good opening in the Telugu states, especially in Telangana. It will gross about Rs 20 crore in Nizam. And I think the film can do more than Rs 50 crore in the Telugu states alone," predicted Deepak.

Additionally, the film will benefit from the generosity of celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Agarwal, who have announced thousands of free tickets for the audience.

Directed by Om Raut, Adipurush features an ensemble cast including Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Singh, and Devdatta Nage.

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