HANUMAN (dubbed) and MERRY CHRISTMAS collected a similar amount on the first day as both films collected 2 crore nett apprx. The opening of MERRY CHRISTMAS was lower in the morning but it caught the other film up due to it being a more urban film for multiplexes. Hence, evening and night shows had the bulk of the collections.

HANUMAN still has the edge as its doing better in the mass circuits. The film is mainly driven by centres in Mumbai circuit and Central circuits and due to the devotional value, these films do have a chance to break out. The film also has a good release for a dubbed film due to there being lack of competition as the Christmas films are out and MERRY CHRISTMAS is mainly for multiplexes.

It remains to be seen where the film can go and it will be Sunday where the film can really collect well as the places where it has opened better do better business on Sunday. Still, its managed the best opening day number for a South dubbed film after SALAAR in the last year or so. ADIPURUSH was a bilingual and that is not being counted. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS picked up in the metros in the evening which was likely as it had nothing for the morning audience and it is very much dependent on the Saturday growth as here the places where its doing well are best on Saturday. If the growth is good then it will have a chance to hold on the weekdays and a run for two weeks. The film is very niche and there is a limited audience out there for this type of content today.

The big Telugu flick GUNTUR KAARAM opened huge with collections to be near the 30 crore nett mark on day one in Nizam/Andhra which is almost 40% down on SALAAR. The film should have actually got to a better day one number based on advances but reports were not there to support the film.