Rishab Shetty's Kantara: Chapter 1 has emerged as a frontrunner in advance bookings, surpassing the Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. The two films are set to release on October 2nd and are already in a screen war, battling for maximum showcasing in theaters.
The advance reservations for Kantara: Chapter 1 have been met with considerable success, marked by impressive booking figures across the nation. Industry experts note that Kantara: Chapter 1 is expected to dominate screens in South India. In contrast, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is predicted to perform better in the northern regions.
Trade analysts point out that the two films belong to different genres and will, therefore, attract different audience segments. Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is a romantic comedy revolving around former lovers attempting to rekindle their relationship amidst amusing mix-ups and the emergence of a new romance. Kantara: Chapter 1 is a mythological action drama.
The clash between the two films has created some tension, especially for single-screen owners in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, who face pressure from distributors to increase the number of shows for each film. Gurmeet Seble, a Delhi-based screen owner, commented that such clashes often negatively impact producers, exhibitors, and audiences.
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari advance bookings opened on September 28th. However, many shows have not opened ticket sales because of the screen clash with Kantara: Chapter 1. As of September 28th, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari has sold 1618 tickets from 1189 shows and collected approximately ₹7 lakh.
Ramesh Bala, a trade analyst, suggests that the division of screens in the North will depend on advance bookings, with multiplex chains adjusting show counts closer to the release date based on early demand. He added that Dharma Productions has influence in the North, giving Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari a negotiating advantage in those markets. Taran Adarsh, another trade analyst, revealed that Kantara: Chapter 1 is getting more screens in most Mumbai multiplexes due to the buzz surrounding the previous film, Kantara (2022). He anticipates that Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, with its happy family theme and wedding backdrop, will draw crowds in the North.
