Kalki 2898 AD Faces Litmus Test On Monday

Kalki 2898AD faces litmus test on Monday. The performance of Prabhas' latest cinematic venture, "Kalki 2898 Ad," presents a picture of varied success across different markets. While the film has garnered impressive collections in the Hindi markets, Kerala, and the United States, its reception in its home turf, especially in Andhra Pradesh, has been less enthusiastic. A robust opening day was followed by a significant dip on the second, but the third day saw a stabilization, with indications that the fourth day would see an improvement over the third in the Telugu-speaking states.

In cities like Rajahmundry, Vizag, Kurnool, and Nizamabad, which represent the B and C tier markets, the film has struggled to attract large audiences. Industry insiders suggest that this underperformance might be attributed to the audience's expectations of a more central, heroic role for Prabhas, which the film did not fully deliver, impacting its reception in some Telugu regions. The film's mass appeal in these centers has not materialized as projected, with a noticeable discrepancy in audience response between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The underwhelming performance in B and C centers can be partly attributed to the film's futuristic genre, which failed to translate into record-breaking advance bookings. The audience has found the film's complex plot, especially the slow and somewhat monotonous first half, challenging to follow, leading to a less-than-expected turnout in these smaller markets.

Despite the cricket finale's impact on night show attendance, "Kalki 2898 Ad" managed to collect around 18 crores on the third day in the Telugu states. Anticipations are that the fourth day (Sunday) collections will remain in the 19-20 crore share range in the Telugu states, indicating a plateau but no significant growth. The cumulative four-day share stands at approximately 95-100 crores.

To be declared an unequivocal hit in the Telugu states, "Kalki 2898 Ad" needs to amass around 170 crores share. The coming days are critical, and it is hoped that there will be no significant drops in collections. The break-even targets in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are notably high, with Telangana still having a realistic chance of reaching the target, given the film's continued strong performance there. However, in Andhra Pradesh, the situation is more challenging, as the film has not been fully embraced by the mass audience, particularly in the B and C centers. The film's mixed reception in these markets underscores the importance of aligning audience expectations with the narrative and style of the film, especially in genre films that deviate from traditional storytelling formats.