The reunion of Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty after 13 years is generating a buzz at the ticket window in Kerala. Patriot, their first film together since 2013, releases on May 1 and is expected to take a blockbuster start at the box office.
With under a day to go before the release, advance bookings for the film are on in full swing. By the end of Wednesday, the spy thriller had generated pre-sales of nearly ₹3 crore in India, of which 90% came from Kerala alone. The film is generating massive buzz overseas, with reports stating that its opening weekend advance gross has crossed $600k internationally, of which $450k comes from just the Gulf region.
Trade insiders estimate the film could earn ₹8 crore net in Kerala on opening day, with ₹1+ crore in other parts of the country. This can give the film a start of ₹9 crore net (₹11 crore gross) domestically. Overseas, buoyed by the huge craze for the two actors in the Gulf, Patriot is heading for a record-breaking opening.
If advance bookings maintain their pace throughout Thursday, Patriot is looking at a $1.6 million start in international markets. This will give the film a ₹25-crore opening day, one of the best ever in Malayalam cinema history.
