THE KERALA STORY recorded an excellent first day of around 6.75-7 crore nett and the business of the film was strong all over including Maharashtra which has under performed for practically every Hindi film post pandemic except for SOORYAVANSHI and DRISHYAM 2.

The film is said to be released in various languages but it seems like a Hindi release only and these sort of a numbers for such a movie are simply phenomenal. The numbers are coming due to a controversial and sensationalized topic rather than the film being great or special. But exhibitors will take the numbers for whatever reason and its great for the producers as well because the film will be a lottery for them.

The film will have implications for Hindi cinema as more of these type of films are likely to be made as simply its bringing people into the cinemas and the films hardly have a budget. The topic has to be negative to a certain community and shown in a realistic way with very real and disturbing scenes to make an impact. THE KASHMIR FILES would have been as a one off but THE KERALA STORY will change that thought. Its not about collecting 100 crore or 200 crore because even 50 crore nett is more than enough; forget that, even 30 crore nett is enough.

In China, the biggest blockbusters are in the propaganda genre and hopefully that does not happen in India but after this film it seems the genre can no doubt deliver huge success. The returns can be huge but stars must stay away (at least the genuine ones) as it is a phase and will pass but if you get involved, it will be the end of their careers once the phase is over.

On the business side, the film is going to make a lot of money and keep the exhibition sector happy which is struggling with a lack of content and when content comes its not getting the admits that is expected. The opening day of the film is better than BHEDIYA, CIRKUS, SHEHZADA and SELFIEE which all had stars/mini stars and that pretty much shows the success of the film.

There were a couple of more of the so called pan India films dubbed form the South released but there was no audience. This pan India thing is an embarrassment and there are attempts to call films like JAWAN  and WAR 2 pan India films when they are HINDI films. If they travel so be it but primarily they are Hindi films. This adjective of Pan India is from the South media and best kept away from as its pretty much a joke. There will be films from South that work in Hindi belts but they wont be run-of-the-mill south Indian stuff.