Aamir Khan is back on the big screen after three years with his latest film, Siaare Zameen Par. The movie, released on June 20, has connections to the 2007 film Sitaare Zameen Par and revolves around children. However, the advance booking numbers are underwhelming for a superstar like Aamir Khan. As of now, the film has earned 2.46 crore through advance bookings, with 90,355 tickets sold, mostly in Hindi.
Language-wise Breakdown of Advance Booking
The advance booking figures vary across languages. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Hindi: 2.33 crore earned, 79,249 tickets sold, average ticket price of 241 rupees, and 8,941 shows.
- Telugu: 9.63 lakh earned, 9,178 tickets sold, average ticket price of 125 rupees, and 341 shows.
- Tamil: 2.48 lakh earned, 1,928 tickets sold, average ticket price of 139 rupees, and 145 shows.
The film has been released on 3,250 screens across India, with a total of 9,427 shows. However, many screens are not fully booked, indicating a weak start.
Theater owners and trade experts are disappointed with the advance booking numbers. Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety Galaxy theater in Mumbai, expressed his disappointment, saying that if there’s no significant surge on Friday, the opening day collection will likely be below 10 crore. Atul Mohan, a film trade analyst, also believes that the advance booking is sluggish and that the film’s success depends on audience reviews and feedback.
Taran Adarsh, a trade expert, thinks that the advance booking is weak for a star like Aamir Khan. However, he notes that the film has an advantage with no major releases competing against it. The film’s success now hinges on audience reception.
The film is directed by R.S. Prasanna and runs for 2 hours and 39 minutes. Initially planned for 1,500 screens, it has been expanded to 3,250 screens across three languages: Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. While the music hasn’t made a significant impact, and booking is slow in smaller cities, the film tells an emotional story. If the film receives positive reviews and generates buzz over the weekend, it might gain momentum. Experts believe the film needs to earn at least 120 crore to be considered successful at the box office.