Thalapathy Vijay, under the direction of Lokesh Kanagaraj in the much-anticipated film “Leo,” is poised to make a significant impact in the Hindi film market. This article explores the surprising reception and advance sales that Leo is enjoying, despite minimal promotional efforts and a lack of widespread Hindi dubbing.
The countdown has begun for the release of “Leo,” a film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Thalapathy Vijay, which is considered one of the biggest releases in the Tamil film industry. The movie has already achieved remarkable pre-sales success, with ticket sales worth an astounding Rs 160 crore for its 4-day opening weekend. While this success was anticipated due to the film’s high expectations, the real surprise is the response from the Hindi-speaking audience.
Leo has secured a U/A certification with a runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes and is set to hit screens in over 1500 locations across India.
Leo’s Hindi Release:
A Unique Strategy Unlike other films, Leo won’t be shown in the National Multiplex Chains due to a strategic 4-week deal with digital platforms. However, Hindi distributors have aggressively pursued non-national multiplexes and single screens. Notably, the film has already sold approximately 620 tickets at MovieMax chain for the opening day alone. With 12 days left for the release, Leo is expected to sell around 1000 tickets on the first day. To put it into perspective, other films like Mission Raniganj and Fukrey 3 sold far fewer advance tickets in comparison. Leo’s advance sales of 1000 tickets at MovieMax are equivalent to a national chain’s advance sales of 20,000 tickets in the North—a remarkable achievement for a film with minimal promotion and dubbing efforts.
Leo’s Surprising Advance Sales
Another non-national chain, Rajhans, has seen exceptional advance sales for Leo (Hindi), with approximately 950 tickets sold for the opening day. This already surpasses the advance sales of more prominent films like Liger, Cirkus, Shehzada, Jug Jugg Jeeyo, Vikram Vedha, and Laal Singh Chaddha. The film is expected to compete with even bigger releases like Shamshera and Prithviraj. Leo’s prospects at Rajhans are in the same range as Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, with potential sales of 2232 tickets.
Hype Around Leo in Hindi
Notably, some single screens in Bihar and Kolkata have reported impressive advance sales. Sanjay Cineplex in Bihar has sold 250 tickets for the opening day, and another single screen in Bihar has already sold 345 tickets for the first day. It’s essential to recognize that these numbers are achieved for a non-holiday Thursday release of a dubbed film with minimal promotions and an intent to cater to an all-India audience. The advance sales in non-national chains have been exceptional, suggesting that a substantial opening day collection of around Rs 2.50 crore is highly likely.
What’s Behind the Hype?
The unexpected enthusiasm for Leo in Hindi can be attributed to several factors. The film Vikram received acclaim following its digital premiere, introducing the audience to the world of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s cinema. The launch asset “Bloody Sweet” has highlighted the Hindi release, and the presence of Sanjay Dutt has generated excitement among the audience. Leo’s digital success in North markets has also contributed to its buzz. The film was initially underestimated by the Hindi Film Fraternity, but it’s now positioned to spring a surprise on its opening day.
Thalapathy Vijay’s “Leo” is on the verge of making history with its Hindi release, garnering unexpected attention and advance sales. Despite limited promotion, the film is primed to become a significant success in the Hindi-speaking market, showcasing the enduring appeal of South Indian cinema on a national stage.