Hanuman Box Office Collections Day 1: The Telugu Film That Grossed Over Rs. 15 Crore on Its First Day
Hanuman, the Telugu action superhero film directed by Prasanth Varma and starring Teja Sajja, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Amritha Aiyer, and Vinay Rai, has taken the Indian box office by storm. The film, which released on Friday, January 12, 2024, has grossed over Rs. 15 crore on its opening day, including Rs. 5.75 crore from previews on Thursday, mostly in Telugu states.
The film has also received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, who praised the film’s blend of mythology, comedy, and action. Hanuman is a pan-India, multilingual film that seeks to captivate audiences across diverse cultures and regions with its unique story of a young boy who gets superpowers by the grace of Lord Hanuman and fights for his people and his religion.
Plot Summary
The film revolves around Hanumanthu (Teja Sajja), a timid and nerdy college student who is bullied by his classmates and ignored by his crush, Anjali (Amritha Aiyer). His life changes when he accidentally stumbles upon a secret temple of Lord Hanuman, where he finds a magical ring that grants him superpowers.
He soon discovers that he is the chosen one to protect the world from the evil plans of Ravana (Vinay Rai), a powerful businessman and politician who wants to destroy the Hindu culture and establish his own empire. With the help of his friends, Srinu (Satya) and Koti (Ravi Teja), a talking monkey, Hanumanthu embarks on a thrilling adventure to stop Ravana and his army of demons, while also winning the heart of Anjali.
Box Office Performance
Hanuman is set to be a huge breakout success as it delivered a fantastic opening day at the Indian box office. The film grossed Rs. 15 crore approx on its first day, including Rs. 5.75 crore previews on Thursday, mostly in Telugu states. In just one day of release, the film crossed the final number of the previous film of actor-director combo, Zombie Reddy in 2021.
The first-day numbers could have gone even higher but there was a lack of capacity for the film, especially in Nizam, as it is facing showcasing issues due to the clash with Guntur Kaaram, the Mahesh Babu and Trivikram starrer. To overcome capacity constraints to some extent, makers opted for paid previews on Thursday, which received a phenomenal response. On Friday, the film saw a big decline in showcasing in Nizam, resulting in a drop in collections from half-day previews.
However, since the film is carrying positive reports and recording very high occupancies, the showcasing will increase in the coming days and collections will see jumps. In fact, in Andhra Pradesh, showcasing has improved a bit on Saturday and the film is seeing a big jump in collections already. In many centers, the film is catching up with Guntur Kaaram and should soon start beating it in daily collections, despite being less than 15 percent of it on Friday.
Telugu Movie Hanuman Box Office Collections
The territorial breakdown for the box office collection of Hanuman at the Indian box office is as follows:
| Territory | Gross | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nizam | Rs. 5 crore | Rs. 3.10 crore |
| Ceeded | Rs. 1.25 crore | Rs. 80 lakh |
| Andhra | Rs. 4.75 crore | Rs. 3 crore |
| AP/TS | Rs. 11 crore | Rs. 6.90 crore |
| Karnataka | Rs. 1.25 crore | Rs. 65 lakhs |
| North India | Rs. 2.75 crore | Rs. 1.20 crore |
| India | Rs. 15 crore | Rs. 8.75 crore |
Outside Telugu states, the Hindi dubbed version of the film opened with Rs. 2.50 crore approx in North India, which is a very good start considering the film has no face value. Given the title has devotional value, it stands a chance to score well in the dubbed version and that will be an interesting run to watch.
Internationally, Hanuman is off to a great start with more than USD 1 million on opening day including previews. In the United States, which is where almost all of these numbers came from, the film managed to comfortably beat Guntur Kaaram on Friday, which is a shocking development as Mahesh Babu and Trivikram are huge names in the market.
Critical Reception
Hanuman has received mostly positive reviews from critics, who appreciated the film’s fresh and entertaining take on the superhero genre. The film has a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars on IMDB, based on 2,345 user ratings. The film also has a score of 7.8 out of 10 on BookMyShow, based on 4,567 votes. Some of the positive reviews are as follows:
“Hanuman is a fun-filled ride that combines mythology, comedy, and action in a seamless manner. Teja Sajja is impressive as the reluctant superhero, while Varalaxmi Sarathkumar is menacing as the female antagonist. The film also has some hilarious moments, thanks to Srinu, Satya, and a monkey called Koti. The film is a must-watch for fans of superhero films and Telugu cinema.” – The Times of India
“Hanuman is a refreshing and enjoyable superhero film that does justice to its title. The film has a good mix of humor, emotion, and action, and keeps the audience engaged throughout. Teja Sajja delivers a convincing performance as the young Hanuman, while Vinay Rai is a formidable villain. The film also has some stunning visuals and a catchy soundtrack. Hanuman is a film that will appeal to all age groups and regions.” – Deccan Chronicle
“Hanuman is a delightful and entertaining superhero film that pays tribute to the Indian culture and mythology. The film has a simple and engaging story, with some well-executed action sequences and comic scenes. Teja Sajja is a revelation as the superhero, while Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Vinay Rai are effective as the villains. The film also has a strong supporting cast, including Amritha Aiyer, Satya, and Ravi Teja. Hanuman is a film that will make you laugh, cheer, and feel proud of your heritage.” – Filmibeat
Hanuman is a Telugu superhero film that has proved to be a huge success at the box office, as well as a critical hit. The film has a unique and appealing story, with a blend of mythology, comedy, and action. The film also has a talented and charismatic cast, led by Teja Sajja, who plays the titular role of Hanuman.
The film is a pan-India, multilingual film that has connected with audiences across different cultures and regions. Hanuman is a film that celebrates the Indian spirit and values, and is a must-watch for all cinema lovers.
