This marks Mani Sharma and Puri Jagannadh’s sixth collaboration, following successful albums like 'Pokiri' (2006), 'Chirutha' (2007), and 'Ek Niranjan' (2009).
Published Aug 18, 2024 | 10:56 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 18, 2024 | 10:56 PM
'Double iSmart' was released in theatres on 15 August. (X)
The highly anticipated film Double iSmart, starring Ram Pothineni and directed by Puri Jagannadh, has faced a tough start at the box office. Despite high expectations due to the director’s track record and the lead actor’s fan base, the film’s earnings have significantly declined over its first three days.
Double iSmart opened on Thursday with a decent ₹7.35 crore collection across all languages in India. The Telugu version led with ₹6.9 crore, while the Hindi version contributed ₹0.45 crore. However, the film faced intense competition from other releases, impacting its performance.
On the second day, collections plummeted to ₹1.5 crore, marking a 79.59% drop from the opening day. The Telugu version earned ₹1.4 crore, and the Hindi version only added ₹0.1 crore. This sharp decline suggests that initial excitement did not sustain audience interest.
By the third day, Saturday, Double iSmart struggled further, with early estimates showing earnings of around ₹1.25 crore. The film’s total for the first three days stands at approximately ₹10.10 crore, falling short of expectations given the film’s buzz and star power.
The touching Mother-Son duo from #DoubleiSmart is here to dive deep into the Double Blockbuster #DoubleiSmart 😍
SHANKAR tho POCHAMMA MUCHATLU Out Now! ❤️🔥
IN CINEMAS NOW 💥
Ustaad @ramsayz @KavyaThapar #PuriJagannadh @Charmmeofficial @duttsanjay… pic.twitter.com/kc3KvbHJOA
— Puri Connects (@PuriConnects) August 16, 2024
Occupancy rates on Saturday reflected the film’s challenges. The overall Telugu occupancy was only 19.49%, with night shows seeing the highest turnout at 22.29%. Morning shows had 16.06%, afternoon shows 21.05%, and evening shows 18.57%, indicating a consistently lukewarm reception over the weekend.
According to the makers, the film follows Big Bull’s quest for immortality through a groundbreaking experiment where he intends to transplant his brain into the body of Double iSmart, leading to a dramatic showdown between the two.
The film stars Kavya Thapar as the female lead, with Bani J, Ali, Getup Sreenu, Sayaji Shinde, Makrand Deshpande, and Temper Vamsi in supporting roles.
Double iSmart features music by Mani Sharma, cinematography by Sam K Naidu and Gianni Giannelli, and editing by Karthika Sreenivas R.
In an interview, Ram credited the success of iSmart Shankar to his strong bond and trust with Puri Jagannadh, which he believes significantly impacted the film’s success. He considers it a major turning point in his career. “iSmart Shankar was crucial for its success and expanded market reach, and I’m grateful to Puri Jagannadh for giving me this challenging opportunity,” Ram said.
(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)
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