Pre-release, trade predicts Brahmastra’s final collections; say “If the audience appreciates the film, the lifetime earnings will go BEYOND Rs. 300 crores”

By Fenil Seta -

September 10, 2022 - 11:30 AM IST

Though it’s too early to predict, does the trade feel that Brahmastra can do business of around Rs. 250-300 crores and thus also emerge as the biggest hit of 2022, especially after they have predicted an opening of more than Rs. 20 crores?

Pre-release, trade predicts Brahmastra’s final collections; say “If the audience appreciates the film, the lifetime earnings will go BEYOND Rs. 300 crores”

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh answered that it is possible, “Look at where The Kashmir Files started and where it ended. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 also jumped from Rs. 14.11 crores to Rs. 185.92 crores. Pushpa opened at just Rs. 3.33 crores and crossed the Rs. 100 crores mark. Meanwhile, Karthikeya 2 opened at just Rs. 7 lakhs in the Hindi belt. It’s now nearing almost Rs. 30 crores! And the bulk of these earnings is coming from the smaller centres. And we have sadly ignored them. I hope they don’t. In the metros, you can play more shows. Toh hum ussi ki kamayi dekhte hai. In the long run, however, the collections come from the B and C Centres. Karthikeya 2, Pushpa, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 – all these films worked in these territories.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, “If all goes well, then the sky is the limit! With an opening of Rs. 20 crores, it can have a weekend of around Rs. 80 crores. But if word of mouth is negative, it’ll prove detrimental.”

Girish Johar, producer and film business analyst, said, “(A lifetime of Rs. 250 crores plus) will be a dream come true. When a Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 can collect Rs. 150 crores plus in the post-pandemic scenario, then there’s a possibility. Also, Disney is releasing the film across the globe and so even, overseas, it’ll have a good chance. Disney has also attached the trailers of Avatar: The Way Of Water and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. These are very smart strategies that can further pull the audiences to cinemas.”

Akshaye Rathi, a film exhibitor and distributor, meanwhile, exulted, “It entirely demands on the quality of storytelling. I am giving this film some benefit of the doubt because Ayan Mukerji’s previous two films – Wake Up Sid (2009) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) – had fantastic storytelling. And these films have not aged. A lot of films made in 2013 seem stale and dated now but you won’t feel that if you watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani today. I am hopeful that he’ll be able to tell a tale that viewers would thoroughly enjoy, especially kids. Because when a kid wants to watch a movie, then multiple tickets are sold as the child will not come alone. He/she will come with the parents or caretaker! Nevertheless, I hope it emerges as a universal hit that appeals to viewers of every age and every demographic.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, said, “Content will depend on the lifetime business. If the audience appreciates the film, it’ll go beyond Rs. 300 crores. There’s no doubt about it.”

The stage is set and now it depends on whether or not the film gets positive word of mouth. Taran Adarsh said, “This is just the beginning. You’ll never know what’ll happen from hereon. The audience has shown that they are interested. Now it’s up to the film to deliver. Saturday and Sunday will be dependent on the word of mouth.”

He signed off by expressing his happiness over the advance sales and remarked, “I would stand in queues to buy tickets for Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, Bobby, Kranti, Kasme Vaade etc. I still remember we didn’t get the tickets for Kasme Vaade. So, we had to see the film in Drive-In theatre in Bandra. It’s great to see this trend being revived by Brahmastra.”

Girish Johar is glad the film has something for every audience, “All the reasons we had given for films flopping earlier are absent in Brahmastra. It has a super-hit song, the casting is exciting, the effects are top-class, the story is unique and further, and it also has a mythological touch. So, it ticks all the boxes.”

Atul Mohan had the last word, “Picture ka chalna bahut zaruri hai. God forbid, if it doesn’t click, the exhibition sector will face a deep crisis.”

Also Read: Brahmastra actor Ranbir Kapoor says he can’t take advance bookings seriously; talks about Alia Bhatt’s inner trade analyst