Vijay Deverakonda: Kingdom is the first film where I feel calm before release
He said, 'Usually before a film releases, things are a little chaotic. Everyone is a little nervous, and the phone doesn't stop ringing. However, this is the first time I am feeling calm and content before the release day. In the last 2-3 years, I have had many sleepless nights. But last night, I had a good night's sleep and came here to meet you all. If I am feeling this satisfied, it's all because of the love Telugu film-goers are showering upon us, which reflects in the advance collections for Kingdom.'
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India Today
44 minutes ago
- India Today
Kingdom box office Day 2: Major drop for Vijay Deverakonda's spy film on Friday
The Telugu film 'Kingdom' opened on a solid note, but saw a big drop in its collection on Friday at the box office. Starring Vijay Deverakonda, it dropped to around Rs 7.50 crore nett on its second day after earning around Rs 18 crore on Thursday. The film received mixed reviews from critics and the audience, and that could be one reason behind the very visible drop in its emerged as the biggest opener of Deverakonda's career. The film made a sweeping presence in the Telugu market, and ended up attracting more audiences to theatres than expected on Thursday. The two-day collection of the film stands at around Rs 25.50 crore nett, reported the trade website Gowtam Tinnanuri-directorial faced several delays, after which it hit the screens on July 31. 'Kingdom' outperformed Deverakonda's previous release 'The Family Star', which opened with just Rs 5.75 crore. It also slightly surpassed the first-day collection of his 2024 film Khushi, which had earned Rs 15.25 crore on day one. gave a 2.5-star rating to 'Kingdom' in its review, calling it visually striking but lacking in emotional depth. A part of the review reads, "Cinematographers Girish Gangadharan and Jomon T John's frames take us to Sri Lanka, and Anirudh Ravichander's music makes us revel in their world. If only the story also lived up to the expectations, 'Kingdom' would be a wholesome film."The spy action thriller is produced by Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya. It also features Satyadev and Bhagyashri Borse in important roles.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Vijay Deverakonda
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Kingdom Box Office Collection Day 2: Vijay Deverakonda's actioner nosedives after historic start, earns Rs 7.5 crore
After a thunderous opening at the box office, Vijay Deverakonda's highly anticipated film Kingdom witnessed a significant decline on its second day of release. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 7.5 crore on Day 2, marking a steep drop of approximately 58.33% from its opening day. This brings the film's total two-day collection to Rs 25.5 crore. Despite the drop, the film maintained a respectable overall Telugu occupancy rate of 42.56% on Day 2. It began the day with 27.39% occupancy during morning shows, increased to 38.12% in the afternoon, rose to 43.21% in the evening, and peaked at 61.50% during the night shows. Region-wise, Warangal led with a 69.50% occupancy rate, followed by Mahbubnagar at 56.50%, and Hyderabad at 52.50%. Also Read | Son of Sardaar 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Ajay Devgn's comedy struggles with Rs 6.75 crore debut amid poor reviews Kingdom had already surpassed the opening day figures of Vijay's previous film Kushi, but its second-day earnings fell slightly short of Kushi's Day 2 collection of Rs 9.9 crore. However, the strong opening helped Kingdom maintain a lead in cumulative earnings, with its two-day total of Rs 25.5 crore edging past Kushi's Rs 25.15 crore. Interestingly, while Kingdom couldn't outdo Liger's Day 1 numbers, its second-day performance of Rs 7.5 crore helped it overtake Liger's two-day total of Rs 23.4 crore. The drop on Day 2 can be attributed, in part, to it being a working day, along with the film receiving mixed reviews. Additionally, Kingdom is facing stiff competition from other releases, including Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, Ajay Devgn's Son of Sardaar, and Karan Johar's Dhadak 2. All eyes are now on the weekend collections, as Kingdom is being viewed as a potential comeback for Vijay Deverakonda after lukewarm responses to his previous outings, Kushi and Liger.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Kargil war veteran turns filmmaker to fight suicide crisis, wins accolades
Gurrapu Jagadishwar Rao, a former Group Captain of the Indian Air Force and Kargil War veteran, has turned to cinema to spread awareness about suicide prevention. The 67-year-old from Kazipet, Telangana, has produced a feature film titled September-10 — named after World Suicide Prevention Day — as part of his ongoing efforts in mental health advocacy. Captain Rao is also credited with influencing the Telangana government to launch a 24x7 toll-free suicide prevention helpline (104) after he authored a book in Telugu on preventive strategies. 'I witnessed the supreme sacrifices of my colleagues during the war. In contrast, I was deeply moved by the preventable deaths by suicide of farmers, students, entrepreneurs and lovers, each case a tragic waste of life. To check this tendency, I visited many villages in Telangana and spoke to the kin of those who died by suicide. I was doing my management course at the ASCI, Hyderabad, during my research on suicides,' Captain Rao says. Following his retirement in 2016, Captain Rao resolved to dedicate his life to suicide prevention. 'Cinema is the most powerful medium to reach the masses. That's why I produced this film in both Kannada and Telugu with English subtitles, to offer hope and educate people through stories drawn from real-life situations,' he explains. The movie recently won three awards — Best Social Film, Best Concept Film and Best Director — at the 17th International Film Festival of Hyderabad Charminar (IFFHC) 2025. Veteran director Om Sai Prakash, who helmed the project, received the Best Director award. 'I am thankful to the director for translating the essence of my book into a compelling narrative,' says Captain Rao, who previously implemented a successful suicide prevention model within the IAF during his service as a Class-I Education Officer. Though September-10 is yet to be released in theatres, it has already attracted critical acclaim. Popular South Indian actor Suman, who attended the festival screening, remarks, 'The film presents the subject of suicide with honesty and emotional depth. It is more than a film; it is a mirror to the silent struggles of people from different walks of life. It urges society to listen, empathise and act with compassion.' Sarah Afreen, a psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda in Hyderabad, also praises the film for its psychological depth and sensitivity. 'The film avoids sensationalism and portrays suicide as the result of prolonged emotional suffering, loneliness or trauma. The characters are portrayed with authenticity, making their pain both palpable and relatable,' she says. She adds that the film effectively captures psychological themes through symbolic cinematography using silence, shadows and visual metaphors to communicate isolation and despair. 'It underscores the role of empathy and timely psychological support. Even a single compassionate conversation can make a difference,' notes. A narrative of 5 stories Possibly the first feature film globally to depict a wide spectrum of suicides in a single narrative, September-10 is structured around five interconnected stories. Each segment highlights a different trigger while advocating preventive measures. Farmer Suicides focuses on economic distress caused by crop failures, mounting debts and societal pressures, including dowry demands. Lovers' Tragedy is a rural love story involving two agricultural graduates who are torn apart by class divide and parental opposition, leading the couple to despair. Businessman's Crisis is centered on a self-made entrepreneur who faces financial ruin after risky investments made to meet his spouse's unrealistic ambitions. Student Struggle explores the tension between parental academic expectations and a teenager's passion for sports, leading to internal collapse. Parental Pressure is about a girl, who, burdened by her mother's demand for near-perfect academic scores to secure an overseas job, spirals into hopelessness. A psychiatrist character connects the five narratives, guiding the families toward recovery and reinforcing the central message that suicide is preventable through understanding, timely intervention and emotional support. The film also features stories of people with physical and intellectual disabilities who defy adversity, sending a message of resilience and hope. 'September-10 is not just a film, it is a movement. It urges society to see the warning signs, have open conversations and ensure no one feels so alone that death seems like the only way out. The film's runtime is 1.52 hours,' Captain Rao said, adding that he spent ₹80 lakh on the film production. Several NGOs and associations in Hyderabad are gearing up to screen the movie in September and October for students and the public at large. (Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State's health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)
