Saturday proved to be a dull day at the box office for Vijay Deverakonda’s Pan–India film debut, Liger. Early estimations reveal that the total collection of the movie has now reached Rs. 10.25 crores, as it saw a slight growth with earnings of between Rs. 4.10 and Rs 4.50 crores on this particular day. It is important to note that prior to this, the film had made Rs 1.25 crores through paid previews, followed by Rs 4.50 crores on its opening Friday.
Movie viewership is heavily influenced by both the youth and the masses. Unfortunately, the less–than–positive reactions from viewers may inhibit a regular jump in ticket sales on weekdays. An upcoming India vs Pakistan match this Sunday will likely cause even further dips in collections due to its obvious popularity amongst many.
Had the reaction to Liger been positive, it could have been a resounding success. There was an appetite among moviegoers to view masala movies on the big screen and with this in mind, the opening weekend takings, inclusive of paid previews, are estimated to be just below Rs. 15 crores. Predictions suggest that its total lifetime gross will fall short of Rs. 25 crores.
Liger has been performing exceptionally well in the hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and some other locations that predominantly deal with mass consumption. Its success even after receiving a lukewarm response is greater than many Bollywood films released this year.
