Kanguva: Despite profit-sharing battles, Suriya's ambitious film set for a massive global opening

A lot is at stake for Tamil superstar Suriya and producer KE Gnanavel Raja with Kanguva, which is set to hit screens on Thursday. The producers faced a series of hiccups, impacting the movie's smooth release as profit-sharing negotiations dragged on until the last minute.

Made on a whopping budget of Rs 350 crore, Kanguva, written and directed by Siva, is expected to take a huge opening worldwide. However, it has faced multiple obstacles in the run-up to its release.

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Many theatres in Tamil Nadu are yet to confirm screens for Kanguva due to ongoing disagreements with the producers. Wherever the movie has been listed, theatres are reporting strong pre-release ticket sales.

“The anticipation is strong; if the reports are good, it can do good business,” said popular film exhibitor Tirupur Subramaniam.

“We haven’t signed the film yet as we’re still negotiating terms with the producers. They’re asking for too much. We don’t give more than 60 percent for Tamil movies, and for other languages, it’s less than 50 percent. However, they’re asking for 70-75 percent. We’re not okay with it. But we hope the issue will be resolved tonight so we can open bookings,” he added.

Subramaniam also noted that the delayed agreement affects the movie’s buzz, hoping for a compromise soon.

The film has faced hurdles nationwide, particularly in the Telugu states, where a profit-sharing dispute between Kanguva distributor Mythri Movie Makers and Suniel Narang’s Asian Cinemas has limited bookings.

These disagreements may impact Kanguva's opening-day earnings. However, the producers have secured over 9500 screens, marking one of the biggest releases for a Tamil film.

Despite the challenges, Kanguva is expected to boost Suriya’s career, potentially delivering his biggest opening yet. The film’s strong promotional push in North Indian states has aimed for around 3000 screens. Early estimates suggest Kanguva could see a promising opening in Hindi-speaking regions, with success dependent on reviews and positive word-of-mouth.

"Bookings are strong in the South, decent in the North, and good overseas. With a wide release in national chains, the movie in the Hindi belt should net around Rs 5 crore on the opening day,” said producer and film trade expert Girish Johar. 

In Hindi-speaking regions, Kanguva faces competition from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again, both in their third week. While Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has held strong, Singham Again, despite its star-studded cast, has shown slightly underwhelming sales. This might give Kanguva an opportunity to attract audiences, especially if it resonates beyond Suriya’s established fanbase. How Kanguva impacts these releases remains to be seen, but a strong opening could shift dynamics in theatres over the coming days.

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