The biggest spectacle of Indian Cinema, Ramayana: Part One, has opened up for advance bookings in India, and as expected, the response is phenomenal. With 13 days to go for the release, the Ranbir Kapoor and Yash starrer has sold 53,000 tickets in the top 3 national chains – PVRInox and Cinepolis – as on Thursday at 9.30 PM. The film is selling tickets like hot cupcakes in the IMAX properties, whereas the pre-sales elsewhere are just about good at the moment.
Having said that, Ramayana will definitely gain stronger momentum as it nears the grand release date of November 5. The target for Ramayana will be to hit the 5 lakh mark in the national chains, though the pre-Diwali factor could keep it away from attaining this. For the Nitesh Tiwari directorial, anything in the north of 3.5 lakh tickets for the opening day will be a good release for a Pre-Diwali release.
The pricing is at an all-time high, with IMAX shows hitting the Rs. 2,000 mark at some locations, and interestingly, there are sales in those centres too. This is just the beginning, as Ramayana will be aiming at an onslaught in pre-sales from Wednesday, which is the final 7 days leading to the release.
The target for Ramayana should be to top the Rs. 70 crore mark on November 5, and build on from there, but keeping in mind the limitations in the pre-Diwali period, a start of Rs. 60 crore will also keep the film in the race for big results over the peak Diwali period starting from November 9.
All said and done, the engine has started; it’s a matter of time before it ignites the heat.
