The latest cinematic offering from Kannada superstar Darshan Thoogudeepa, titled 'The Devil', has successfully navigated its first week in theatres, amassing a significant total at the box office. Released on December 11th, the political action thriller opened to a strong audience response and has demonstrated consistent performance despite the usual weekday dip.
Box Office Performance: A Strong Start and Consistent Numbers
According to trade reports, the film enjoyed a tremendous opening, raking in over Rs 10 crore on its first day. While the collections saw a noticeable drop on the second day, the movie stabilized quickly. It earned Rs 3.4 crore on Saturday, followed by Rs 3.8 crore on Sunday, and a further Rs 4 crore on the following day, indicating solid weekend patronage.
As the weekdays commenced, the figures saw an expected decline. The movie collected Rs 1.45 crore on Monday and an estimated over a crore on Tuesday. This brings the film's total domestic collection to approximately Rs 23.65 crore for its opening run, a decent figure for the Kannada film industry.
Theatrical Occupancy and Audience Reception
The film's theatrical occupancy paints a picture of growing audience interest through the day. On Tuesday, the overall Kannada occupancy stood at 17.36%. The day began with morning shows at 10.26%, which increased to 17.49% in the afternoon. The evening shows saw a slight rise to 18.92%, with night shows recording the highest occupancy at 22.78%.
Early critical reception for 'The Devil' has been mixed. While Darshan's ardent fans have praised his intense performance in a challenging dual role, especially amidst personal controversies, some critics have found the screenplay to be underdeveloped. This divergence in opinion highlights the film's polarizing narrative style.
About 'The Devil': Plot and Star-Studded Cast
'The Devil' is a high-stakes political action thriller where Darshan essays a compelling dual role. He plays both Krishna, an innocent mess owner and aspiring star, and the unhinged antagonist Darshan, the son of a Chief Minister. The plot revolves around the powerful antagonist forcing Krishna into a dangerous game of impersonation, leading to dramatic consequences.
The film is directed and written by Prakash Veer. It features a strong supporting cast including Rachana Rai, Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Sharmiela Mandre, Roger Narayan, Shobaraj, and Srinivas Prabhu. The musical score is composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, renowned for his work in 'Kantara Chapter 1'.
With its first-week numbers setting a stable foundation, the industry is now keenly watching the second-weekend performance of 'The Devil' to gauge its long-term box office sustainability. The film's ability to hold audiences in the face of mixed reviews will be its true test.
