In an unsettling shock to trade pundits, “HanuMan” is emerging as a blockbuster. The Telugu-language superhero fantasy flick is enthralling the audiences, in the US in particular. It has already broken the “RRR” record and is expected to break even by Jan 17th, merely less than a week after its release. Going by netizens’ comments and reviews on social media, the film is earning mass hysteria.
Tipping US Box Office Numbers
Until now, “Salaar” is topping the charts, followed by “Baahubali 2”, and “HanuMan” has earned over $9 million worldwide by Monday, the 15th of January, per reports. Out of this, $2.3 million is from the US alone, in 430 locations. Among non-Rajamouli flicks, “HanuMan” has created a record by collecting far more on a Monday than what “RRR” collected in North America.
It has managed to become the highest-grossing Telugu in that regard, in contrast to its limited budget production of $2.5 million, per Comscore ratings. California-based Nirvana Studios, overseeing the film’s distribution in the US, plans to add 100 more locations this week. Even in the Hindi-speaking belt of our country, the movie is garnering rave reviews because of the subject treatment and authentic storytelling. The Sankranthi release is now giving tough competition to some big names in theaters.
Word-of-Mouth Publicity for HanuMan
People are thronging multiplexes to watch the film, despite fewer promotions compared to other movies. Viewers are making word-of-mouth recommendations for this sleeper hit. Although the beginning was humble, HanuMan’s prowess is now pulling crowds.
Teja Sajja plays the titular character Hanumanthu, and the supporting cast includes Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Satya, Vennela Kishore, and Getup Srinu. Directed by Prasanth Varma, “HanuMan” has Vinay Rai as the villain and Amritha Aiyer as the female lead. The technical aspects, creative narration, and unparalleled visuals are on par with big-budget action thrillers like RRR, so, viewers’ numbers grew organically.
No Celebrity Encouragement for the Compelling Film
While fans everywhere are going gaga over the movie, they are miffed with Telugu film industry bigwigs. Apart from Megastar Chiranjeevi, no other actor or director is promoting the flick or even tweeting about it. This underdog that is attracting appreciation from all corners, is being ignored by bigger stars.
They haven’t said a word of encouragement or given a pat on the back after achieving a hit status. Even worse, it is marred with controversies and troublemakers spreading negativity and fake votes on ticket booking apps.
Director Prashanth Verma expressed his disappointment on social media. “The one who stands for Dharma will always win. Ultimately, #HANUMAN Kite is set to fly even higher this Sankranti, treading negativity to the depths below,” he said.