Ramayana advance booking crosses Rs 150 crore worldwide

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend has arrived in cinemas with a number most films chase on a good weekend, not before release. The mythological epic crossed Rs 150 crore gross in worldwide advance bookings ahead of its November 5 opening, according to trade tracker Sacnilk.

It is a signal that the pre-Diwali window, usually treated cautiously by distributors, has produced a genuine event film. India contributed more than Rs 100 crore gross to the pre-sales, while overseas markets added about USD 5.6 million, roughly Rs 52 crore.

Advance bookings are not the final word, but they show where audiences are gathering, which language versions are connecting, and how much confidence the trade is already placing in a title.

India leads, but the map is wider

The Hindi version is the biggest contributor, accounting for nearly three-fourths of domestic advance bookings. Kannada and Telugu versions also saw strong demand, a reminder that Yash’s presence as Ravana is pulling audiences beyond the Hindi heartland.

Booking momentum picked up late after a revenue-sharing disagreement between distributors and exhibitors was resolved. Once screens opened up, sales accelerated sharply across the opening weekend rather than only for the first day.

The multiplex scoreboard

Leading chains saw enough action to break a long-standing pattern. PVR, INOX and Cinepolis together recorded Rs 45.76 crore gross in opening-weekend advance bookings, including blocked seats, or Rs 36.38 crore without them.

• PVR: Rs 25.36 crore gross
• INOX: Rs 14.91 crore gross
• Cinepolis: Rs 5.49 crore gross
• Combined tickets sold: 7.89 lakh

PVR INOX executive Kamal Gianchandani called the response “a significant moment for the theatrical industry” and said the film could deliver the company’s biggest pre-Diwali advance in more than three decades.

What Day 1 could look like

Industry estimates now place the India opening in the Rs 75-100 crore range, with worldwide debut projections around Rs 160-175 crore. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala has projected roughly Rs 175 crore worldwide, with Rs 200 crore possible if early word of mouth is strong.

The pre-sales have already pushed the film past the pre-release numbers of major Hindi releases such as Pathaan, Jawan, Animal and Adipurush. It remains behind Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, which set the benchmark with about Rs 236.63 crore worldwide on Day 1, including paid previews.

A two-part bet that needs legs

The opening numbers are only the first act. Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is planned as a two-part adaptation, with the second instalment expected around Diwali 2028. The combined production budget has been reported at Rs 4,000 crore, so the film needs more than a strong start; it needs sustained footfalls through the holiday week.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita and Yash as Ravana, with music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. It has released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Source: India Today