22 April 2023
Hyderabad

Opening to great word-of-mouth talk on Friday meant that Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon-starrer Virupaksha picked up considerably as the day progressed, with the first and second shows reporting full’s wherever it played. With reviews praising the content, direction, background score, sound design and performances, the film is poised to enjoy a great opening weekend in the Telugu states and in the US.

According to the makers, the film, which is believed to have done Rs 25 crore theatrical business, has collected a whopping Rs 12 crore gross yesterday. Nizam rights, it is said, were sold for Rs 7.20 crore while the film grossed Rs 3.25 crore on Friday. At the rate with which it’s performing on Saturday, the film is set to attain the break even status within one week in Nizam and in most other territories and leave a smile on the faces of distributors.

From the US, the film mopped up $278,898 from 172 locations, including the premiers. The excellent momentum might ensure that it crosses half a million dollars by the end of Saturday. By weekend, it looks to overtake #Sai Dharam Tej’s highest USA grosser Prathi Roju Pandage ($556k).

Directed by Karthik Dandu, who earlier made the damp squib Bham Bholenath, Virupaksha is a mystery thriller which narrates how Surya (Sai Tej) tries to thwart Rudravanam villagers being killed from evil forces. Sukumar has penned the film’s screenplay, while SVCC produced it.