Suriya's film 'Scene' collected 34 crore on its first day of release, competing with 'Ramayana'

The massive and grand Indian film 'Ramayana' was released in theaters on Thursday, November 5th, shortly before the Diwali holidays, worldwide. This first episode, with a budget of 1600 crore rupees, is currently the most expensive Indian film. The film demonstrated a strong start thanks to advance ticket sales and positive reviews.

Advance sales for 'Ramayana' began 15 days before the premiere, during the Dasara festival. After resolving a dispute between cinemas and distributors, pre-sales gained momentum. By the time the film was released, 200 crore rupees worth of tickets had been sold globally, indicating an expected large opening day.

In several regions of India, screenings on Thursday morning were fully booked. Although advance sales did not reach the level of 'Dhurandhar 2' earlier this year, the film still started confidently. According to Saklink, on the release day, 'Ramayana' earned 64.85 crore rupees (net) in India, largely driven by the good performance of its Hindi version.

Despite Yash's participation as Ravana, the Kannada version started slowly, earning only 7.25 crore rupees. Meanwhile, the Hindi version earned 47.50 crore rupees, while the Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam versions brought in 6.00 crore, 2.60 crore, and 1.50 crore, respectively. Thus, the total gross collection in India amounted to 77.50 crore rupees, with a net collection of 64.85 crore rupees. Official global figures have not yet been provided by the creators.

With this revenue, 'Ramayana' surpassed the total collection of 'Dhurandhar' on the first day by noon. Ranveer Singh's film was released last year with box office collections of 28 crore rupees. By the end of the day, 'Ramayana' also overtook the first-day box office figures of blockbusters such as 'Patan' (57 crore rupees), 'Animal' (63 crore rupees), and 'Drishyam 2' (62 crore rupees).

However, the film could not surpass 'Jaan' Shah Rukh Khan (75 crore rupees) or 'Dhurandhar 2' Ranveer Singh, which collected 102 crore rupees on its opening day earlier this year. Perhaps the biggest disappointment for fans was that the film failed to beat the debut of 'Adipurush'. This film, based on 'Ramayana' and subject to criticism, collected 86.75 crore rupees in 2023.

The film 'Ramayana', created with the participation of Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios, DNEG, and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, is planned to be released in two parts. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash plays Ravana, Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana, and Sani Deol plays Lord Hanuman. The first part was released worldwide on November 5, 2026, and the second part is scheduled for Diwali 2028.

Sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma continues to win listeners' hearts with his compositions. He recently released the song 'Rama-Rama', dedicated to Shabari, which is filled with an atmosphere of devotion. This track was performed by him during the presentation of the film 'Ramayana' trailer in Delhi, after which it was released at the request of fans.

The song 'Rama-Rama' is presented in the format of a music video. Although it is not yet known whether it will be used in the film, the initial impressions from listening were very strong. The melody of the sitar itself is charming, and Rishab's mastery of the instrument has undoubtedly added sophistication to the song. He portrays Shabari's devotion in his unique style, and the composition feels more like a bhajan than just a song. The visuals are also of a high standard, and Rishab's vocals are of high quality.

In the song, Rishab touches upon the theme of Shabari's unwavering devotion and her story of offering fruits to Lord Rama, and also includes tales of Govardhan. According to the text, Govardhan wished to serve Lord Rama and wanted to become part of Ram Setu. However, by the time he reached the seashore, the bridge had already been built. In response to this, Lord Rama promised that in his next incarnation, he would return as Lord Krishna and personally help him.

This promise of Lord Rama was fulfilled in Braj. Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill on his little finger for seven days and seven nights. During this period, he protected the residents of Braj and their cattle from the heavy rain caused by the god Indra. Near Govardhan is the sacred lake Kusum in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed that this place is associated with Radha and Krishna, and it still reminds of their divine love in the land of Braj.

From the story of Shabari's deep love to the desire to serve Govardhan—all these narratives teach that for God, no offering is too small. If there is sincere faith and devotion in the heart, even a humble gift will be invaluable to Him.

Ahead of the Diwali festival, the blockbuster 'Ramayana' is expected this year, preparing for its release in the first phase. However, to create direct competition for 'Ramayana,' Akshay Kumar is entering the arena with his hit 'Mohra,' which will be re-released in cinemas.

The popular 90s action film 'Mohra,' starring stars such as Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, and Sunil Shetty, will be shown in restored 4K format after 32 years. This was announced by Trimurti Films, which also shared a trailer for the film on its official YouTube channel. The creators noted that viewers will once again be able to see the action, thrilling moments, and songs that made this film unforgettable.

The film 'Mohra' was first released on July 1, 1994. Rajiv Rai directed the movie, and Gulshan Rai produced it. In the film, Sunil Shetty played Vishal Agnihotri, Raveena Tandon played Roma Singh, and Akshay Kumar portrayed Inspector Amar Saxena. In addition to the plot and action, the songs from 'Mohra' gained immense popularity.

Songs like 'Tu Chiz Bade Hai Must Must' and 'Tip Tip Barsa Paani' remain very well-known among the public even today. Among other compositions in the film, there were 'Na Kajre Ki Dhar,' 'Subha Se Lekar,' and 'Dil Har Koi.' The duo of Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon created a real sensation on screen in 'Mohra.'

'Mohra' became one of the biggest Hindi films of 1994. That year, it ranked second in box office collections among Indian films after Salman Khan's 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun.' The film's music score also achieved colossal success, with reports stating that over 800 thousand units of the soundtrack were sold.

Now, after 32 years, 'Mohra' is being released in an updated 4K format. This re-release is scheduled for the day after 'Ramayana,' which is November 6th.

The conflict between the films 'Mohra' and 'Ramayana' is a significant event. Although most viewers' attention will likely be focused on Ranbir's film, high ticket prices for 'Ramayana' are worrying many in advance. Furthermore, finding a suitable showtime might be difficult after the premiere.

Under these circumstances, people who cannot watch 'Ramayana' may turn to cinemas to see 'Mohra.' Since cinemas are expected to be crowded, the superhit Akshay may get a chance. Some viewers will also want to experience the wave created by the Akshay-Raveena pair in the 90s. It remains to be seen whether 'Ramayana' will spoil the re-release of 'Mohra' or not.