Three days before its theatrical release, the film 'Ramayana: Part 1' is showing impressive growth in advance bookings. The financial performance of this movie could enter the list of the most successful premieres in Indian cinema. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, has collected about 75 million rupees just from advance bookings worldwide.
According to Sakalik, in India, advance sales have led to a total revenue of approximately 45.35 crore rupees, including booked seats. About 1.085 million tickets were sold, and 35,294 screenings are planned in the country. Excluding reserved seats, the advance booking amount is 36.39 crore rupees.
The film has also received a positive response in the international market. Advance sales abroad earned the picture about 3.5 million dollars, equivalent to approximately 31.3 crore rupees. North America contributed the most to this sum, where advance sales for paid screenings exceeded $1 million.
In India, the highest number of advance bookings comes from the Hindi version, but the markets of Karnataka and Telugu also contribute significantly. By city, good sales are observed in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Audiences are also actively responding in Hyderabad. The reaction in Bangalore is particularly important because Yash plays Ravana, which may attract the fan base of two major stars: Ranbir Kapoor in the Hindi market and Yash in Karnataka.
How the film earns across different language versions will determine whether it becomes a true pan-Indian hit. Although a strong start in the Hindi segment is important, the reaction in other languages will also play a key role in its success. Furthermore, the film is released in IMAX and other large screen formats, where ticket prices are higher, which could increase the overall revenue from advance bookings.
Currently, the highest demand for tickets is in the first few days of screening. It will be interesting to see if demand increases on weekends or if audience enthusiasm is limited to the initial shows.
Trade analyst Akshay Rathi predicts that only the Hindi version can collect between 50 to 65 crore rupees. He expects the versions in other languages to bring in about 45–50 crore rupees, with Karnataka potentially contributing 35 to 40 crore rupees. According to Akshay Rathi, 'Ramayana' has the potential to attract a multilingual audience because its story is familiar to almost everyone in the country. Moreover, the cast can ensure popularity in various states. The fact that Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Yash plays Ravana is a big plus, as both actors have their own fan bases ready to visit theaters.
He also predicted good revenues in the international market. According to him, if the film is released on a large scale abroad and receives a positive response, its foreign earnings could match or even exceed those in India. This means the film will not be limited only to the Indian audience but can attract viewers from other countries.
The Chinese market is also considered very important for the international release of 'Ramayana'. Sony Pictures, which handles the film's overseas distribution, has prepared a special title for China: 'Ramayana: The Legend of the Prince'. The success of Nitesh Tiwari's previous film in China, 'Dangal', may help create recognition for this film among the Chinese public.
However, official information regarding the release date and the number of cinemas in China is currently unavailable. Reports suggest the film might be released in China about two weeks after its premiere in India. Akshay Rathi gives an example: if the film is shown in 20–25 thousand cinemas in China, and also gets a wide release in North America, Europe, and Australia, its revenue will increase significantly. The success of Amir Khan's film 'Dangal' in China serves as a prime example. If 'Ramayana' is also widely presented and receives a good response, it could take its international earnings to a new level.
Sony Pictures plays a major role in the film's international distribution.
