“Article 370” Earns Rs. 5.7 Crore on Opening Day, Capitalizes on Discounted Tickets
Yami Gautam’s latest film “Article 370” hit theaters on February 23, marking the collaboration of director Aditya Dhar, known for “Uri: The Surgical Strike,” with the star-studded cast including Arun Govil and Priyamani. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film raked in an impressive Rs 5.75 crore on its opening day, garnering a notable 42.8 percent occupancy in Hindi markets. Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, “Article 370” delves into the sensitive subject of the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Yami portrays the role of an intelligence officer in this politically charged narrative. Notably, cities like Jaipur, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Chennai recorded the highest Hindi occupancy, with many theaters offering special discounts, likely contributing to the film’s success at the box office.
The release of “Article 370” saw it going head-to-head with the action-packed film “Crakk,” starring Vidyut Jammwal, Nora Fatehi, and Arjun Rampal. While “Crakk” managed to collect Rs 4 crore on its opening day, “Article 370” closely followed with an impressive Rs 5.75 crore. Comparing the opening day collections, “Article 370” slightly lagged behind Shahid Kapoor’s recent release “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya,” which garnered Rs 6.7 crore. Notably, films like “The Kashmir Files” and “Uri” set the benchmark for politically themed narratives, with opening day collections of Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 8.2 crore respectively. Both these films turned into word-of-mouth successes, and early reviews suggest “Article 370” may follow suit, potentially gaining momentum over the weekend.
Prior to “Article 370,” Yami Gautam was seen in “OMG 2” alongside Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi, a film that crossed the Rs 150 crore mark in India. She also featured in Netflix’s “Chor Nikal ke Bhaga,” one of the streaming platform’s notable Indian originals.
The release of “Article 370” amidst the backdrop of the upcoming General Elections has piqued public interest in the film. Responding to criticisms labeling the film as “agenda-driven,” director Aditya emphasized in an interview with Indian Express that such judgments are premature and unfounded, urging viewers to watch the film before forming opinions.
