The makers of Thalaivaa couldn’t have asked for more. Fans queued up from 6am, brought the film’s reel on a chariot, and danced to celebrate the film’s peaceful release on Tuesday.
After crossing roadblocks, the Tamil action-drama starring Vijay was finally released in Tamil Nadu and Pudicherry.
In one Chennai theatre, fans brought the film’s reel on a chariot, performed pooja and then carried it on their shoulders to the operator’s room.
“It’s a ritual to carry the reel of Vijay’s films on a chariot. So, fans organised a chariot and brought the reel after performing pooja in a temple. They danced all the way from the temple to the theatre. Fans in the theatre poured milk on Vijay’s life size cut outs and also put kumkum and garlands on his posters,” a representative of the Udhayam theatre said.
In Tamil Nadu, Thalaivaa hit approximately 405 screens.
“Fans were waiting for the theatre gates to open since 6am in the morning. They wanted to set up everything before the release of the film. Most of Vijay’s fans wore t-shirts with his image on it and were dancing to his songs,” said the representative.
Thalaivaa, originally scheduled to come out on August 9, was stalled after theatre owners received threats from a political outfit.
The film’s producer Chandra Prakash Jain and director A.L. Vijay requested Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha to intervene.
Thalaivaa got a green light after the makers agreed to drop the tagline — time to lead — from the publicity stills and promotions for reasons unknown.
The film released peacefully across the state on Tuesday.
“We didn’t have any problem since morning. It has been a very smooth release. In some of the big and old theatres, police were deployed to ensure fans maintain decorum. The response has been phenomenal as thousands turned out on a weekday to see the film,” said Sunil Jain, son of producer C.P. Jain.
Amala Paul, Ragini Nandwani, Sathyaraj and Abhimanyu Singh also feature in the film.
Mayajaal, one of the biggest multiplexes in the city, is running 50 shows of Thalaivaa.
“We have had about 85-90 per cent occupancy since morning. I’m sure it will drastically increase in the next few days and will be packed during the weekend,” a representative of Mayajaal said.
According to trade pundits, Thalaivaa is expected to have a big opening.
“Going by the response to the film since morning, it is likely to collect between Rs50 million (Dh2.8 million) and Rs1 billion. Vijay’s recent films have managed to reap gold on the release day in Tamil Nadu, and, Thalaivaa will surely follow suit,” said trade analyst Trinath.
After crossing roadblocks, the Tamil action-drama starring Vijay was finally released in Tamil Nadu and Pudicherry.
In one Chennai theatre, fans brought the film’s reel on a chariot, performed pooja and then carried it on their shoulders to the operator’s room.
“It’s a ritual to carry the reel of Vijay’s films on a chariot. So, fans organised a chariot and brought the reel after performing pooja in a temple. They danced all the way from the temple to the theatre. Fans in the theatre poured milk on Vijay’s life size cut outs and also put kumkum and garlands on his posters,” a representative of the Udhayam theatre said.
In Tamil Nadu, Thalaivaa hit approximately 405 screens.
“Fans were waiting for the theatre gates to open since 6am in the morning. They wanted to set up everything before the release of the film. Most of Vijay’s fans wore t-shirts with his image on it and were dancing to his songs,” said the representative.
Thalaivaa, originally scheduled to come out on August 9, was stalled after theatre owners received threats from a political outfit.
The film’s producer Chandra Prakash Jain and director A.L. Vijay requested Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha to intervene.
Thalaivaa got a green light after the makers agreed to drop the tagline — time to lead — from the publicity stills and promotions for reasons unknown.
The film released peacefully across the state on Tuesday.
“We didn’t have any problem since morning. It has been a very smooth release. In some of the big and old theatres, police were deployed to ensure fans maintain decorum. The response has been phenomenal as thousands turned out on a weekday to see the film,” said Sunil Jain, son of producer C.P. Jain.
Amala Paul, Ragini Nandwani, Sathyaraj and Abhimanyu Singh also feature in the film.
Mayajaal, one of the biggest multiplexes in the city, is running 50 shows of Thalaivaa.
“We have had about 85-90 per cent occupancy since morning. I’m sure it will drastically increase in the next few days and will be packed during the weekend,” a representative of Mayajaal said.
According to trade pundits, Thalaivaa is expected to have a big opening.
“Going by the response to the film since morning, it is likely to collect between Rs50 million (Dh2.8 million) and Rs1 billion. Vijay’s recent films have managed to reap gold on the release day in Tamil Nadu, and, Thalaivaa will surely follow suit,” said trade analyst Trinath.
