The audience verdict is out: SINGHAM is likely to 'rule' the box-office in weeks to come. The keenly-anticipated biggie, which won unanimous praise in the pre-release screenings, has started with gusto at the ticket window.
Almost all single screens reported 80% to 90% to 100% occupancy, with the audience greeting the film with whistles and claps. But what really came as a surprise was that at a cineplex in Ahmedabad, the audience gave a standing ovation to the film after the show concluded. In another instance, the Rajasthan distributor's phone has been ringing incessantly since 3 a.m. on Friday, after a midnight screening of the film [that began on Thursday night] concluded in the wee hours. In fact, SINGHAM is expected to accumulate a mammoth total from single screens and is likely to remain a favorite for the next few weeks, given the response to the film.
The business of SINGHAM got affected at plexes on Friday morning/noon since its release was uncertain till Thursday night and therefore, the show timings were undecided and hence not publicized in newspapers. Also, the plexes did not sell the tickets in advance, since the two factions [distributors and multiplexes] had not resolved the issue [revenue sharing terms] till Thursday night. Despite this, the opening shows [morning and noon] were decent, depending on the circuit. In the Hindi heartland, where action and masala films rule, the plexes started on a 50% to 70% note, while in urban centres, the business was in 40% to 50% range. The business at multiplexes is likely to improve by evening, since the audience feedback is extra-ordinary.
Looking at the initial trends and also the reports pouring in from all quarters, SINGHAM is expected to be amongst the biggest openers of all times.
