Box Office Trajectory of They Call Him OG
When the lights went up on Thursday, the buzz around Pawan Kalyan’s new thriller felt electric. Preview shows on Wednesday already pulled in Rs 21 crore, and the opening day hit a staggering Rs 63.75 crore. For a regional star, those numbers scream "nationwide". But the story took a turn on Friday when attendance nosedived, delivering just Rs 18.75 crore – a 70% dip that left traders raising eyebrows.
Saturday offered only a marginal bounce, with the film clearing Rs 18.5 crore. That put the three‑day domestic total at Rs 122 crore, while the global tally nudged past the Rs 200 crore benchmark. By Sunday, the domestic haul crept over Rs 130 crore, settling around Rs 134.75 crore according to trade sources. The bulk of that cash came from the Telugu‑speaking belt, where occupancy hovered at 42% on Saturday. In contrast, the Hindi, Tamil and Kannada versions logged modest numbers, enough to keep the overall run afloat but far from the opening hype.
- Wednesday (pre‑shows): Rs 21 crore
- Thursday (opening day): Rs 63.75 crore
- Friday (second day): Rs 18.75 crore
- Saturday (third day): Rs 18.5 crore
- Sunday (cumulative domestic): ~Rs 134.75 crore
Critics gave the film a mixed verdict, pointing to a thin script despite high‑octane action. Fans, however, stayed loyal, rating it 7.2 on IMDb and shouting praise for Kalyan’s screen presence, Emraan Hashmi’s cameo, and the gritty gang‑war choreography. The plot – a samurai turned gangster seeking vengeance – may have felt outlandish, but it resonated with a core audience that loves larger‑than‑life heroics.
India's Oscar Entry Homebound Struggles
While *They Call Him OG* was battling a steep drop, another home‑grown project faced its own box‑office nightmare. *Homebound*, chosen as India’s official Oscar submission, reportedly failed to attract viewers, slipping quietly into the doldrums. Industry insiders note that the film’s artistic credentials didn’t translate into ticket sales, a pattern that’s becoming all too familiar for prestige‑driven releases in a market dominated by star power and spectacle.
The dual disappointment underscores a shifting landscape: big‑budget action can still draw crowds, but only if the momentum doesn’t fizzle after day one. Meanwhile, critically acclaimed dramas need more than accolades to survive the commercial battlefield. Both cases are prompting producers to rethink release strategies, especially when juggling multi‑language dubbing and regional fan bases.
For now, the numbers speak louder than the hype. *They Call Him OG* continues to scrape together earnings from its strong regional following, while *Homebound* watches its Oscar dreams fade amid empty seats. The Indian film industry, ever adaptive, will likely adjust its formulas as audiences decide what truly earns their time and money.
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