With viewers giving Udta Punjab a thumbs up on Day One, the movie looks set to fly high in the days to come.
The most controversial and debated film of the year Udta Punjab directed by Abhishek Chaubey released on June 17 and it has managed to establish an emotional connect with the audiences on Day One. The movie got off to a flying start at the box office, specially in North India (Delhi, Punjab), and has minted Rs. 10.05 cr. on the first day of its release.
With these numbers, the movie has secured the fifth position in the list of movies with highest opening day collections of 2016 after Shah Rukh Khan’s Fan being at number 1, Housefull 3 at number 2, Airlift at number 3 and Baaghi at number 4. Udta Punjab stars Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh in lead roles.
A multiplex that we checked into witnessed almost 60% occupancy for the first show with an equal mix of male and female audiences. Viewers heaped praises on the hard hitting reality of substance abuse portrayed in the movie and how it left young boys and girls destroyed in Punjab. Said a viewer, “The director has made sure to display the shock value relating to drug abuse well enough without making scenes look vulgar or sleazy.” (Udta Punjab fails to fly high at box office on first day)
Every viewer we spoke to unanimously opined that the controversy generated by the CBFC had made them curious to catch the film as soon as possible. While adverse reactions were literally nil, a couple of viewers did make it a point to note that the usage of Punjabi in a Hindi film should have been kept minimal. (Udta Punjab movie review: Shahid, Alia starrer is worth all the fuss)
Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared Udta Punjab box office collections on Twitter.
#UdtaPunjab had a STRONG Fri… Best in North India [Delhi, Punjab]… Plexes across big cities VERY GOOD… Fri ₹ 10.05 cr. India biz.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) June 18, 2016
Udta Punjab ran to packed shows on the first day in Punjab. Speaking to The Indian Express, Hemant Sahani, Manager Wave Cinemas said, “The response to Udta Punjab has been excellent on day 1. Even for Saturday and Sunday, we have 40-50% advance bookings. Despite so much of competition in Ludhiana due to various multiplexes running here, we have advance bookings for all the shows till Sunday.” (Thumbs up for Shahid, Diljit: Punjab audiences)
The shows at other multiplexes including PVR Flamez Mall, PVR Pavilion and PVR Silver Arc were also ‘almost full’ till Sunday. (Udta Punjab audience reaction: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt starrer flies high on Day One in Mumbai)
With viewers giving Udta Punjab a thumbs up on Day One, the movie looks set to fly high in the days to come.
