Tollywood
Can Prabhas' Baahubali: The Epic Make Baahubali 2 To Reclaim Indian Box Office Crown?
BY SACNILK
Hyderabad, October 30 - Maverick filmmaker SS Rajamouli and Pan India superstar Prabhas' action drama Baahubali: The Conclusion ruled the Indian box office for nearly eight years as the country's highest-grossing film, before that reign came to an end when Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule took over the top position following its phenomenal success in December last year. There is currently a difference of around 50 crores between the two films in favour of Pushpa 2. But the tables may yet turn with the upcoming re-release of the Baahubali duology, now presented as Baahubali: The Epic. This special cut will bring together both films — Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion — into a single, nearly 3-hour-45-minute cinematic experience. The advance booking of Baahubali: The Epic is robust, better than all the films which have been re-released at the Indian box office so far. To earn over 50 crores gross for the film shouldn't be a big ask, but it has to double it up to make Baahubali 2 reclaim its top spot. Baahubali: The Epic poses a unique case for box office accounting, as it includes both parts in one continuous feature, so the total earnings of its can't be attributed to just Baahubali 2. Since this is a one-of-a-kind case, what can be done is to split the collection of Baahubali: The Epic in half and add to both parts. If done so, the re-release will need to gross over 100 crores at the Indian box office to bridge the 50+ crores gap between Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2. For the record, no film has ever grossed more than 50 crores in its re-release run at the Indian box office, so it needs to be seen how Baahubali: The Epic fares, even though it is certain to become the biggest Indian re-release grosser of all time. Whether it can also help Baahubali 2 reclaim its long-held crown remains to be seen, but one thing is certain — this epic is about to make history again. Stay tuned...
