'Krrish 3' gets grand opening

Superhero sci-fi drama "Krrish 3" is flying high at the box office with both multiplexes and single screen theatres getting overwhelming footfalls on the opening day Friday across the country. The Hrithik Roshan-starrer will be a blockbuster, predict experts.

Released Friday, "Krrish 3" is equipped with a spectacular range of special effects and extravagant action sequences. Hrithik returns as the superhero with the film that is the third instalment in the franchise that began with "Koi... Mil Gaya" in 2003.

Deepak Sharma, COO of PVR Pictures, says that the film has got "great opening and it's going to be a blockbuster".

"The advance booking is as good as it was for 'Chennai Express' and opened like that all across India. Once holiday starts it will do amazing business. It can be in the league of Rs.200 crore. Going by morning show, it's looking good," Sharma told IANS.

Vivek Oberoi plays Kaal, the villain, in the movie directed and produced by Rakesh Roshan. It also features Kangana Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra.

Reportedly made on a budget of about Rs.100-Rs.150 crore, "Krrish 3" hit approximately 3,500 screens Friday, said a source.

Red Chillies VFX, a subdivision of Shah Rukh's motion picture production banner Red Chillies Entertainment, worked on the special effects worth Rs.26 crore for "Krrish 3".

Apart from the metro cities, the movie got an overwhelming response to the morning shows in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan too, said trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted.

"The pre-Diwali period is always considered dull by the industry. But a film like 'Krrish 3' can change the mindset," Taran tweeted.

Another trade pundit Komal Nahta posted similar opinion on the microblogging site.

"'Krrish 3' opening in Bihar circuit crazy. Most cinemas report, all shows full in advance. Such madness rarely seen. And this is pre-Diwali!," posted Nahta.

R.K. Mehrotra, general manager, Delite cinemas, said that on the first day mostly children accompanied by their parents came to watch the film.

"The opening was extraordinary. It's housefull till Wednesday. Kids were seen applauding while watching it. The special effects and action sequences are wonderful. 'Krrish' is at par with Hollywood films," said Mehrotra.

"Krrish 3" has hit about 700 screens down south and trade analyst Trinath said "Krrish" did good business in Tamil Nadu when it released in 2006.

"It was an instant hit in the state, collecting approximately Rs.1.2 crore in first two weeks. It was huge for a Hindi film and it was received very well. 'Krrish 3' was approximately released in about 700 screens in the south," Trinath said.

"In Andhra Pradesh, since there are no Diwali releases, the film released in over 300 screens. Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences are watching it because it's the only big theatre in cinemas this weekend," he added.

There was limited release in Tamil Nadu, but the movie's performance is positive.

"We could manage to get nearly 60-65 screens in Tamil Nadu because most of theatres are playing Ajith Kumar's 'Arrambam'. Hrithik has a good market here, but unfortunately we couldn't get more screens. But the overall response to the film has been positive since morning," a spokesperson of Thameens Films, who released the film in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, told IANS.

"Arrambam" got more screens in Kerala.

"Theatres have given more preference to 'Arrambam' in Kerala as well because of the craze for Ajith. In Kerala, I managed to get few more screens vis- -vis Tamil Nadu. But the competition is tough because two more Tamil films are releasing tomorrow," he said.