'Pelli Choopulu' US box office collection: Vijay-Ritu starrer inches closer to $1 million mark in 2nd weekend

Telugu movie "Pelli Choopulu" has continued to keep the cash registers ringing at the U.S. box office. The collection of the film is now inching closer to the $1 million mark in the second weekend.

"Pelli Choopulu," which was released in over 50 screens in the U.S. on July 29, opened to good response and maintained rock-steady hold in the following days. The movie collected a total of $465,726 [Rs 3.11 crore] at the U.S. box office in the first week. The film became one of the biggest Tollywood money spinners in the country and the superb performances of this shoe-string budget film surprised many in the industry.

Some trade pandits predicted that new Telugu releases "Manamantha" and "Srirastu Subhamastu" would force "Pelli Choopulu" out of a large number of screens and also take a toll on its collection. But the one-week-old movie managed to retain more than 40 screens in the country and the word of mouth helped it attract viewers to theatres.

"Pelli Choopulu" collected $63,148 at the U.S. box office on its second Friday, taking its eight-total beyond half-million dollars. The movie went from strength to strength on its second Saturday and Sunday. In its second weekend, the film has made bigger collection in lesser number of screens than in its opening weekend.

The Vijay Deverakonda, Nandhu and Ritu Varma starrer had collected $258,815 from 51 screens at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend. However, "Pelli Choopulu" has collected $259,626 at the U.S. box office in its second weekend and its 10-day U.S. total collection stands at $725,352.

Idlebrain Jeevi tweeted on Sunday: "#Pellichoopulu is on dream run in USA. Collects $1,10,231 on 2nd Saturday to take total to $639,105. Rare feat for small budget film! " He added on Monday: "#Pellichoopulu collects.$85,702 on 2nd Sunday to take the total to $725,352 after 2nd weekend in USA. Incredible achievement "

"Pelli Choopulu," which was in the second rank in its opening weekend, has topped the U.S. business chart for the Indian movies in its second weekend. The movie has beaten "Manamantha" ($111,551), Hindi movie "Dishoom" ($88,591 total collection - $569,430), Punjabi film "Bambukat ($61,804 – total $313,219) and "Srirastu Subhamastu ($38,088).

The Tharun Bhascker-directed romantic-comedy film needs to collect $274,648 to surpass the $1 million mark at the U.S. box office. As per its current pace, "Pelli Choopulu" is likely to rake in over $175,000 on weekdays and its two-week total is expected to cross $0.9 million. The movie will collect the remaining $0.1 million in its third weekend. It is set to become the sixth $1 million mark grossing Telugu film in 2016, after "A...Aa," Brahmotsavam," "Sarainodu," "Sardaar Gabbar Singh" and "Nannaku Prematho."