Mumbai: Seven days before release, the Indian audience has booked ₹15.56 crore of Ramayana. The audience abroad has booked more.
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part One has recorded $2.58 million, roughly ₹24.5 crore, in international advance bookings, against ₹15.56 crore gross in India, according to trade data. North America alone accounts for $1.91 million, nearly 74% of the overseas total, with the film scheduled to open worldwide on November 5 and paid premieres on November 4.
In India, about 2.97 lakh tickets have been sold across 6,382 shows in 191 cities. The domestic gross of ₹15.56 crore includes blocked seats; without them the figure is ₹12.77 crore. The Hindi version accounts for ₹13.06 crore, about 84% of the domestic total, followed by Kannada at ₹2.04 crore and Telugu at ₹46.38 lakh.
Among other overseas markets, the UK and Ireland have recorded $268,800, Australia and New Zealand $248,300, Germany $86,400 and other territories $62,800.
The overseas lead is unusual for a Hindi-language epic and points to how the film has been positioned: as a global Indian release rather than a domestic one that travels. North America has become the most reliable overseas market for large Indian films, and a 74% share there ahead of release is a signal distributors will read closely.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. It is produced by Namit Malhotra and is the first of a planned two-part adaptation of the epic.
The release lands in a crowded November. Rajinikanth's Jailer 2, which has grossed ₹755.5 crore worldwide in two weeks, has another week of clean run before Ramayana arrives. How much of the Hindi belt's screen capacity Ramayana holds after opening weekend will decide whether a strong advance translates into a long run.
Advance numbers, distributors note, measure intent, not legs. The film's opening day will be the first real answer.