Manikarnika box office collection Day 1: Kangana Ranaut film has earned Rs 8.75 crore. Manikarnika box office collection Day 1: Kangana Ranaut film has earned Rs 8.75 crore. Kangana Ranaut starrer Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi released on January 25 and has earned Rs 8.75 crore on opening day. The movie, co-directed by Ranaut herself and Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, is about the warrior queen of Jhansi who defied the East India Company rule during the Rebellion of 1857 and fought until her last breath. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared on Twitter, “#Manikarnika picked up towards evening, after an ordinary/dull start in morning… #RepublicDay holiday [today] should witness a big turnaround… Sure, there’s appreciation, but it has to convert into footfalls… Fri ₹ 8.75 cr. India biz. #Hindi #Tamil #Telugu” #Manikarnika picked up towards evening, after an ordinary/dull start in morning… #RepublicDay holiday [today] should witness a big turnaround… Sure, there’s appreciation, but it has to convert into footfalls… Fri ₹ 8.75 cr. India biz. #Hindi #Tamil #Telugu — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 26, 2019 Manikarnika released alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer Bal Thackeray biopic Thackeray. Johar said, “Both Manikarnika and Thackeray are in the biopic space but the former is more of a mass historical film and the latter has a bent towards drama. So, in my opinion, there is no competition between the two movies in terms of box office figures.” He added, “Manikarnika will be the highest non-holiday, woman-led opener with a collection of Rs 12-13 crore on the day of its release. It will have a massive release.” The film also stars Atul Kulkarni, Jisshu Sengupta, Suresh Oberoi, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa among others. KV Vijayendra Prasad, screenwriter of blockbusters like Baahubali franchise and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, has penned the story of Manikarnika. Manikarnika has evoked mixed response among critics. The Indian Express’ film critic Shubhra Gupta wrote in her 2.5 star review, “As promised, Manikarnika does tick all the nationalistic boxes. It is getting a perfectly-timed Republic Day release. And there are plenty of eye-roll moments as it chases the red-faced Brits, and raises the flag. It may have been Jhansi, but it is clearly a prelude to the ‘tiranga’.” She added, “But what keeps us with the film is Rani Ranaut, who in her best moments, owns her part, the single-track narrative, and the screen.”<doc-sep>Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is set to clash with the Thackeray biopic at the box office this weekend. Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the role of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, the film is expected to do well in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi seems to cater to much larger audience across India. Talking about the clash, film trade analyst Komal Nahta says, “I think Manikarnika will open well. Thackeray will open well in Marathi in Maharashtra as the rest of India doesn’t really consider him as a national-level leader.” Describing Manikarnika as a film that caters to a wide audience across generations, film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says, “If you look at the budget and the pan India appeal, a lot of people will think that Manikarnika is a bigger film. But as charismatic and iconic a leader as Bal Thackeray was, there is huge excitement around Thackeray, primarily in Maharashtra. Of course, there will be takers outside the state, but it’s a Maharashtra-driven story. I am sure it will have a robust business in the state. Manikarnika is a story that has been really out there and to see that kind of a tale coming alive on the silver screen on a huge scale is exciting.” Confirming Manikarnika’s chances of domination across India, Rathi said, “Manikarnika will obviously dominate across India but there will be a neck-to-neck scenario in the state (Maharashtra), especially with the Marathi and Hindi version of Thackeray coming together.” He is, however, hopeful that the films can co-exist, “Republic Day is an occasion where two big films can co-exist together and do phenomenally well. The only thing that can affect their run is the demerit of their own content. Going by the trailer, both promise to reach out to the public in a big way.” Talking about Kangana and Nawazuddin, Rathi said, “Thackeray can become Nawazuddin’s biggest solo grosser, essentially due to the charisma and iconic status of Bal Thackeray.” He added, “Kangana has delivered a Queen and Tanu Manu Weds Manu Returns, which were blockbusters and even did a film like Revolver Rani which didn’t even cross Rs 10 crore. More than the star value, the content of the film will take it forward.” Also read: Karan Johar on Hardik Pandya’s Koffee with Karan controversy: Had sleepless nights, it’s beyond my control now Also read: Kangana Ranaut on Karni Sena’s threats against her: There’s no need for useless ego, I’m not here to apologise to anyone According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, in honour of Thackeray’s birth anniversary on January 23, the party’s film wing, Bharatiya Chitrapat Sena, has prepared a video of his pictures and famous speeches. Around 250 theatres across the Maharashtra have agreed to play the montage video before the national anthem. According to a PTI report, the makers said that the film will release in 1200-1300 screens in India and 400-500 overseas. They also intend to release the Marathi version in around 400 - 500 screens. Meanwhile, Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi will release in over 50 countries, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. According to the reports, the release of Emraan Hashmi’s Why Cheat India was preponed to make way for Thackeray ahead of the Republic Day weekend. Why Cheat India, therefore, released on January 18 and failed to make a mark at the box office. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10<doc-sep>One of the most talked-about films of the year, Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi, has taken off to a fantastic start at the box office. The historical drama, which released in 3000 screens across the country, has earned Rs 8.75 crore on its opening day. India Today critic Lakshana Palat gave it 3 out of 5 stars. "Sadly, the 148-minute Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, which is a collaborative effort from directors Kangana Ranaut and Krish Jagarlamudi, fails to give Laxmibai's character some substance and more shades. What Manikarnika turns out to be is thus something straight out of a Class-8 history textbook; at points, even an Amar Chitra tale," she wrote in her review. Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi revolves around Rani Laxmibai, who fought against the East India Company and the British to prevent her kingdom of Jhansi from being usurped. The film marked the big screen debut of television actress Ankita Lokhande, who was seen playing Jhalkaribai, a solider who rose through the ranks in Rani Laxmibai's army to become a prominent advisor. It also marked Kangana's foray into direction, which she found an extremely fulfilling experience. "It may sound strange, but I have never really identified with being an actress. It's not my calling, direction is," she said. "It's actually surprising even to me how comfortable I feel being a director on set, even when I am sweating buckets and am surrounded by 500 people and everyone's screaming at the same time! There's something about directing a film that's so gratifying," she added. ALSO READ | Kangana to reshoot Manikarnika at Rs 20 cr extra cost after Sonu Sood's exit? ALSO READ | Sonu Sood on exiting Manikarnika: Cannot work with two directors on one set<doc-sep>
Manikarnika box office prediction: Kangana Ranaut film is expected to open with good numbers. Manikarnika box office prediction: Kangana Ranaut film is expected to open with good numbers. This Republic Day, two big films Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Thackeray will battle it out at the ticket counters. Despite being backed by powerful actors like Kangana Ranaut and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, respectively, it is being expected that the two releases will not affect each other’s business. Trade analyst Girish Johar said, “Both Manikarnika and Thackeray are in the biopic space but the former is more of a mass historical film and the latter has a bent towards drama. So, in my opinion, there is no competition between the two movies in terms of box office figures.” Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi starring Kangana Ranaut narrates the story of young girl Manubai Tambe who becomes the Queen of Jhansi after marrying Raja Gangadhar Rao. After her husband gets killed in a battle, she rules Jhansi with her formidable spirit and resists British Raj with her warrior skills and her efficiency with the sword. Produced by Kamal Jain and Zee Studios, the film is expected to become the highest woman-led opener at the box office. “Manikarnika will be the highest non-holiday, woman-led opener with a collection of Rs 12-13 crore on the day of its release. It will have a massive release,” suggested Johar. Commenting on the factors that will work in favour of the Kangana Ranaut directorial, Johar added, “Manikarnika is releasing at a time when the Indian audience is in a patriotic mood and the film only adds to the feeling. The trailer of the film has been appreciated and a lot of buzz has been created around it. Also, Kangana has a huge fan following which adds to the possibility of the film performing well.” Apart from Kangana, Manikarnika boasts of a stellar star cast including television actor Ankita Lokhande, veteran star Danny Denzongpa, Suresh Oberoi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub among others. Manikarnika is one of the many Bollywood historical dramas which filmmakers have planned to present to the audience of Hindi cinema. Talking about this trend, Johar said, “India has a rich culture and stories from its past works better than any other fictional story. They have a mass appeal and if narrated well, the audience can also relate to them better. Even the students who have read about the history of India likes to watch it on the big screen.”