Undoubtedly, Tamil star Karthi’s latest film ‘Japan’ outshines the box office collections of ‘Jigarthanda DoubleX’ featuring Raghava Lawrence in the Telugu states. Despite receiving scathing reviews, Karthi’s heist comedy has garnered more than Rs 3 crores in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Lawrence’s gangster movie ‘Jigarthanda DoubleX', managed a mere Rs 1 crore plus in the five days. “Both the films collected over Rs 4 crores together due to Deepavali holidays,” says a distributor, who claims that the collections are dipping since both the films don’t boast of great content. “Undoubtedly, it is Karthi’s one-man show that helped the film to draw collections. His comic timing and daredevil action helped the movie,” he adds.
Briefly, the story of ‘Japan’ is that a jewelry shop belonging to the state Home Minister is robbed by an inter-state gang and the heist is worth over Rs 200 crore. Police are under pressure to nab the culprits and the prime suspect is Japan (Karthi ) who is a mastermind of such crimes. Is Karthi the real culprit or he is being framed in the rest of the story? “Whereas, 'Jigarthanda 2' revolves around two central characters- Raghava Lawrence, a criminal aspiring to become a film hero, and SJ Suryah who poses as Satyajit Ray’s assistant and secures the role of director. They resolve to make a cowboy movie and Lawrence begins shooting, without knowing the intentions of S J Suryah,” he adds.
Although the Telugu audience lapped up recent dubbed films like ‘Jailer’ and ‘Leo’, they have become selective in patronizing dubbed movies these days. “A disaster like ‘Chandramukhi 2’ has surely cast its shadow on actor Lawrence’s new film. It was unable to draw huge crowds despite being an action film inspired by Hollywood movies,” he concludes.
Karthi's film was reportedly sold for Rs 3.5 crores in two Telugu states, while 'Jigarthanda 2', was released on a distribution basis. Both the movies have to sustain this week in more theatres to mint more money. Let's wait and watch.
