New Delhi: Tamil actor Ajith Kumar’s Vidaamuyarchi has finally hit theatres – selling over seven lakh tickets and collecting Rs 13.39 crore in advance bookings. Despite being leaked online within hours of its release, Ajith’s ‘comeback film’, directed by Magizh Thirumeni, is filling cinema halls across the country. Vidaamuyarchi is a remake of the 1997 Hollywood crime thriller film Breakdown, and stars actors Trisha, Arav, Regina Cassandra, and Arjun Sarja in leading roles.
As per advanced ticketing data, Bihar recorded 56 per cent occupancy in two shows in the state, while Tamil Nadu recorded 48 per cent occupancy in 3,738 shows. Theatres in Tamil Nadu were denied permissions for early morning shows earlier, which was revised yesterday when it allowed special 9 am shows. In the United States, the movie sold Rs 2.6 crore-worth of tickets in advance bookings.
‘Non-massy, one-time watch’
Ajith, known for his reclusive media presence, last gave interviews in 2007, when three of his films were released. The actor does not have a social media presence and is rarely ‘spotted’ in events or promotions. Even the buildup to his comeback film was interrupted by his car racing adventure in Dubai earlier this year.
Ajith’s team placed third at the Dubai 24H race. After winning, he waved the Indian flag, with his wife Shalini, and actor R Madhavan, cheering him on. The race made waves because Ajith won despite meeting with an accident in the practice week.
The actor’s fans are hopeful that Vidyamuraachi would mark a similar comeback for his acting career. The film, however, has received mixed reviews from the audiences so far.
“One-time watchable, but totally engaging! #AK delivers a stellar performance. The team boldly avoided unnecessary commercial elements, keeping it tight & thrilling. A must-watch for fans!, wrote one user on X.
@iam_Tharani showered high praise on the film. “No Buildup Scenes and Mass. #AjithKumar Looks and Screen Presences Good.”
Many have praised the movie for not going for a ‘massy’ take and sticking strictly to its thriller genre.
“A great thing that the star like #AjithKumar doing a genre specific film with no mass scenes. Making of this movie is hollywood level and the cinematography looks awesome,” wrote one X user.
Made on a budget of Rs 200 crore, Vidaamuyarchi earned around Rs 6.51 crore in India on its first day for all languages.