The pre-release business of Telugu dubbed version of Vikram starrer "I" is expected to be closed for a record price, according to latest reports.
The film is expected to fetch around ₹35 crore for the AP/Nizam theatres alone, reported Andhraboxoffice. The Vikram starrer will surpass the pre-release business of Rajinikanth's "Robo" ("Endhiran" in Tamil), which fetched around ₹27 crore.
"Endhiran" collected approximately ₹37 crore total share in AP/Nizam box office. It will be interesting to see if "I" manages to collect more than the Rajinikanth starrer.
"I" needs to get a solo and wide release in a bid to fetch huge collections at the box office. Earlier, there were reports claiming that the film's makers are planning to release it in 15,000 screens worldwide, including several screens in China, where the story is predominantly set. If the reports turn out to be true, it will be the first Indian film to have such a big release.
"I" is one of the most-awaited films of the year as director Shankar and Vikram have teamed up for the second time after their 2006-release "Anniyan". Their films have a good market in the Telugu industry and have registered good collections at the box office earlier.
The film's posters and the trailer have generated huge positive buzz surrounding the project. The audio launch of the Tamil version was a big event with the presence of several stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rajinikanth, Vikram and Puneeth Rajkumar.
The success of the audio launch took "I" to global stage too, and has created a lot of buzz. The songs and the teasers fetched good responses from the audience and turned out to be big hits. The teaser has fetched more than 8 million views, which is sort of a record for a south Indian film.
Fans are eagerly looking forward for the trailer launch of "I", which is expected to raise the hype surrounding the project.
The Shankar directorial is a romantic thriller flick with Vikram appearing in different looks. The actor has undergone physical changes to sport different avatars, including that of a beast-like creature, a stylish man, body builder and a crippled man. Amy Jackson plays the female lead, while Upen Patel and Suresh Gopi are also part of the film's cast.
AR Rahman has composed the songs, whereas PC Sreeram has handled the cinematography. Produced by Aascar Ravichandran, "I" is reportedly made with a huge budget. The film is expected to hit the screens this year, but an official confirmation regarding the release date is still awaited.
