If Ajith's Valimai is a blockbuster hit in Tamil Nadu, it would forever seal his position as Badshah of Box Office. Valimai's success is not like any of the earlier hits in the career of Ajith. His film with just the usual trailor- singles release on YoutUbe and Twitter is pitted against RRR releasing a week ahead in January 7th. Unprecedented pre release promotions in Tamil Nadu for RRR - a Telugu film dubbed in Tamil, took place. After a press meet, RRR team landed up again for a live show with top draws Jr NTR and Ram Charan speaking in Tamil. Live Telecast on YouTube etc. The publicity hype does to a great extent influences hard core movie goers and gets them to movie halls. The audience who are not Ajith fans would definitely want to go for RRR as it comes with the most selling tag - S S Rajamouli the director of Baahubali.
How strong is the influence of Baahubali in the public mind ?. If anything to go by TV channels TRP ratings, every repeat of Baahubali 1-2 parts always gets good TRP's even now. Secondly last one week has shown that public comes to theaters to see grandeur and not content alone. Many Tamil films with good content were yanked off while Pushpa - Spiderman - Matrix continued to be screened even in a Tier 3 areas. Valimai being a Zee production , it is sure that the film would come on Zee5. Will this keep the family audience away ?. Yet another factor is that RRR 's Tamil Nadu rights os with production giant Lyca who has big ticket films like Indian 2 among others under production.Trade wise, Ajith's previous outing Nerkonda Parvai by H Vinoth ( who is director of Valimai) did not do the expected business and the producer Boney had to compensate the losses to buyers. As it was a remake sans the trappings of a Mass Hero film, it was not unexpected. The film's Tamil Nadu theatrical rights has been sold to Madurai Anbu for Rs 65 crores . As the practice, the film has been sold in parts to various areas and theaters. From January 13th onwards for five days ( pongal holidays), Valimai has to collect Rs 140 crores gross to make a profit for trade. This amount was reached by Ajith's Viswasam. The catch is that it was promoted as a family entertainer while Valimai is shown as high octane action films. A single on love for mother was released but it has not stuck in any one's memory.
Andhra / TS markets are with Boney Kapoor and so also North India. Both of these markets are dicey for the market conditions are bad due to Omicron - AP Ministry war with theaters and after RRR comes Radhe Shyam of Prabhas releasing on same day. Kerala and Karnataka has been sold for a price that is lower than of Pushpa. Kerala moves from January 1st for no night shows. Yahiya has bought Overseas for Rs 16 crores. USA - UK situation is going from bad to worse due to Omicron and EU has put 25% limit on movie hall occupancy.
Going by all this data, Ajith's stardom is at test to overcome the hurdles. However Ajith and same director H Vinoth are doing one more film for Boney Kapoor. Co Producer Zee has the TV- OTT- digital rights and so is insulated from the ground market conditions.
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