PUAADA did well on its first day as it collected 50-55 lakhs nett on day one but this number does not tell the complete story as the film released on just 55 cinemas in East Punjab compared to the 175 it would have had on a normal release. 

The best comparison is probably the collections from PVR properties which had the closest to a normal release. Here, the three key properties in East Punjab circuit were the main ones missing. The film managed to collect 18 lakh nett from PVR and looking at these collections then the missing three PVR properties would collect another 3 lakh with PVR Mohali adding 2 lakh alone. 

So PVR collections post the pandemic with 50% occupancy would be around 21 lakhs nett and the last Ammy Virk film SUFNA released in Feb 2020 collected 29 lakh nett on all PVR properties on day one when things were normal. PUAADA is around 30% less with only 50% occupancy allowed and this is a great result for the first major release after the pandemic. No doubt if the film was allowed 100% occupancy, it would have surpassed the PVR numbers of SUFNA despite Covid-19. 

The film has generally done very well in East Punjab but it is not reflected in the total collections due to the limited release and then on top restrictions to capacity on this limited release. There will more theatres added today including one more PVR theatre and its possible that more theatres will come on board over the weekend. This could lead to much stronger numbers on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is crucial as signs of families returning would be a huge boost..

The film had a good response in Delhi city also with collections in the 10 lakhs nett range which is similar to what SUFNA had done in Feb 2020. SUFNA collected 11 lakhs nett in Delhi city. There are no night shows in Delhi but this is compensated by more shows in the city due to lack of Hindi films. Still it is 50% occupancy allowed here and if 100% was allowed it would have easily surpassed the SUFNA numbers. 

The film also scored very well in UK as it collected almost £15,000 and that too on a Thursday. The film had a good response in Canada also but occupancy rules held back key shows in the evening in cities dominated by the Punjabi community. These shows normally go housefull for most Punjabi releases and here they were housefull also but on the allowed occupancy.

The Punjabi film PUAADA has taken a good start across East Punjab and Delhi city though collections in East Punjab will be held back due to a limited release. The film has released on around 70 theatres only when normally it would be around 175 in East Punjab. But this second reopening of cinemas post the pandemic is about occupancy at the moment and audiences coming out and this happened with Puaada.

The film sold 2800 tickets at PVR before the release of the film which is comparable to SUFNA (2020, released a month before the lockdown). SUFNA also sold 2800 tickets at PVR before release. Here the figure for PUAADA came without three key properties including the highest collecting cinema for Punjabi films PVR Mohali and also no night shows in Delhi or Chandigarh.

The film saw good footfalls with many national chain multiplexes recording 80-100 audience counts in the morning shows while single screens and non national multiplex chains were even better as they recorded audience counts of 200 and even full houses (on allowed occupancy). There were shows in places like Patiala, Sangrur and Bhagha Purana recording collections of 25-30k which is excellent.

The limited release will hit collections but its likely more theatres will come into play over the weekend and then it could be the film will have collections which can be close to pre pandemic releases which would be a huge result for the first major release. 

The release in Delhi city is normal as the 50% occupancy rule and no night shows is compensated by the film getting more shows as compared to a normal Punjabi release. If the numbers here could get to within 30-35% of a similar pre pandemic release it would be very good and a good sign for Hindi films as it will mean the audience returning in Delhi.

Overall the audience is coming and it remains to be seen where the first day number lands and then where it can over the weekend.