In many ways, Allu Arjun-Sukumar’s Pushpa became the first bonafide pan-Indian blockbuster after the multiple waves of Covid-19 had finally died down, and there was an ease in the lockdown restrictions across the country. Everyone wanted to go watch a mass masala entertainer, and Pushpa was that film, which made record numbers in not just the Telugu states, but also in the neighboring states in the South, and many important centers in North India. The crowning achievement of Pushpa was the film also receiving multiple National Awards, including Best Actor for Allu Arjun. Now, the makers are back with Pushpa 2-The Rule. While there were multiple rescheduling of release dates, including pushing it from August 15 to December 6, the makers today met the press to announce the revised release date.
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To cash in on a 4-day weekend, the makers revealed that Pushpa 2 would hit the screens on December 5. In a special event, Ravi Yerneni and Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers were joined by distributors of the film — N Cinemas (Karnataka ), E4 Entertainment (Kerala), AGS Entertainment (Tamil Nadu), and AA Films (North India).
With Pushpa 2 speculated to have made the highest pre-release business by an Indian film so far, the producers and distributors of the film exuded confidence that Pushpa 2 would indeed break all existing records. Lakshmikanth Reddy of N Cinemas, who is distributing Pushpa 2 in Karnataka, is confident that the film would equal the record made by KGF 2 in the state. “KGF 2 was released in 350 single screens and 80 multiplexes. We are aiming for 500 single screens Pushpa 2and will try to better the opening day record in Karnataka held by KGF 2,” said the distributor, who believes it is quite the possibility considering the hype for the film. This statement was echoed by Mukesh Mehta, who is distributing the film in Kerala under his E4 Entertainment banner. “We only have two agendas for Pushpa 2. We want to break the opening day record of Rs 12 crores, held by Vijay’s Leo, and want to have the film running for 24 hours in the state. I don’t think we would disappoint the trust in us.”
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The distributors also spoke about the potential of the Pushpa films, and how the first part has created the right hype for the humongous reception awaiting the second part. “Our own film, GOAT, was released in 539 locations, and 806 screens in Tamil Nadu. We hope to do similar numbers for Pushpa 2,” said the AGS Entertainment representative, who asserted that Pushpa is a national brand, and will break all records. “Baahubali 2 did Rs 80 crore share in Tamil Nadu, and I hope Pushpa 2 touches the same number.”
AA Films’ Anil Thadani, who definitely has been having a golden run with the distribution in North India, spoke about his luck with sequels, and how he has seen the growth of the South all over India. “I feel really privileged to have released Baahubali 1, and subsequently Baahubali 2, which created box-office history. The same happened with the two KGF films. And now, with Pushpa 2, I hope history repeats itself, and the collections shatter all records,” said the distributor.
Ravi Yerneni of Mythri Movie Makers also hinted at the possibility of Pushpa 3. “It will definitely happen. There is a lead up to the third,” said the producer, who also expressed his confidence that Pushpa 2 will be the next entrant into the elite Rs 1000 crore club. “We think it is an achievable target.”
Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 also features Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil reprising their roles from the first part. With music by Devi Sri Prasad, cinematography by Miroslaw Kuba Brozek, Pushpa 2 is billed to be one of the most expensive Indian films to date.