The much-awaited historical political drama 'Parasakthi', starring Sivakarthikeyan and directed by Sudha Kongara, finally premiered in theatres on Saturday, January 10. The film opened to a robust response from audiences but witnessed a slight decline in its box office earnings on the second day of release.
Parasakthi Day 2 Box Office Performance
According to early estimates reported by Sacnilk.com, 'Parasakthi' earned approximately Rs 10.15 crore on its second day, Sunday, January 11. This marks a dip from its opening day collection of Rs 12.5 crore. The combined net collection from India for the first two days now stands at an impressive Rs 22.65 crore.
The film's occupancy rates on Sunday showed a steady climb through the day. Morning shows began with a 35.15% occupancy, which significantly increased to 58.03% in the afternoon. Evening shows saw the highest turnout at 60.69%, while night shows recorded a 50.35% occupancy.
Strong Regional Response
The regional breakdown of audience turnout was particularly noteworthy. Pondicherry led the charts, followed closely by major Tamil Nadu cities including Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Vellore. This strong regional performance underscores the film's deep connection with its core audience in the state.
About the Film 'Parasakthi'
Set against the backdrop of 1960s Madras, 'Parasakthi' is a historic drama that delves into the anti-Hindi imposition agitation in Tamil Nadu. The narrative revolves around two brothers caught in the socio-political movement of the era. Alongside Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, the film features pivotal performances by Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela.
Overcoming Censorship Hurdles
The journey to the screen was not without challenges for 'Parasakthi'. The film faced significant scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which initially demanded 25 cuts. In a conversation with India Today, Sivakarthikeyan revealed the team's race against time to comply.
The actor stated that the team had little time to question or understand the reasoning behind the cuts. Their primary focus was on implementing the required changes without compromising the film's narrative integrity. The entire crew operated like a 'military camp', with members on 24-hour standby to address the edits.
"Thankfully, the cuts weren't too random; the team was able to match them somehow, ensuring they didn't spoil the experience and deliver the final cut within the 10 hours we had," Sivakarthikeyan explained. He also noted the paradoxical challenge of modern technology, which, while advanced, sometimes complicates the editing and revision process.
The film's release marks a significant entry in the genre of political historical dramas in Tamil cinema, blending a potent period narrative with contemporary star power. Its box office performance in the coming days will be closely watched by industry observers.
