The advance bookings for the film Dhruva are superb. It is better than all the films of Ram Charan that have released after Magadheera and Orange. And yet when we talk about the first day numbers the target is not the top three Baahubali, Sardar Gabbar Singh, and Janatha Garage. It is the films that follow them Srimanthudu and Bruce Lee.
Srimanthudu is the fourth fest best where as Bruce Lee is Ram Charan’s best opener. The target is revised because the film is coming in a very challenging time which has altered its release strategy. Dhruva isn’t releasing in record theaters but instead it is getting a fractured release. The release is multiplex heavy and single screens are lesser than usual for a biggie. Even the big hires usually associated with star heroes are missing here.
The idea is to increase the screens based on the talk that will give a positive spin. Rather than have record release and have empty theaters on the opening day itself. If the strategy works it will be good for the long run of Dhruva. But it comes at a cost and that is the openings, which will be reduced.
As things stand today, the higher ceiling limit of the film appears to be 18 Cr which will be fantastic if achieved. The lower limit is around Bruce Lee. But everything now depends on the talk the film gets from morning shows tomorrow. The openings of Dhruva will give an idea for the way business of Sankranthi releases would be handled. If Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada was the real test for small films then Dhruva is a true test for big movies to recalibrate business post the demonetization.
