Pawan Kalyan breaks records on Day 1, but 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu' stumbles on Day 2

Pawan Kalyan’s much-anticipated film Hari Hara Veera Mallu finally hit the big screens after years of waiting, and while the initial response gave fans a reason to celebrate, the second day has brought a reality check. The historical action drama opened to a strong start, but early indicators show a sharp decline in performance as it entered its second day of release.

A Powerful Start Backed by Premiers and Fan Base

Released on July 24, the film managed to pull in Rs 44.20 crore net in India on its first day, as per early estimates from Sacnilk. The total included Rs 12.7 crore from paid premiere shows that were held on Wednesday evening, while Thursday’s collections stood at Rs 31.5 crore. This number places Hari Hara Veera Mallu among Pawan Kalyan’s top openers, overtaking films like Bro and Bheemla Nayak, but slightly trailing behind Vakeel Saab, which collected Rs 40.10 crore on its first day.

The film’s opening also positioned it ahead of recent Telugu releases like Daaku Maharaaj, Sankranthiki Vasthunam, and Kuberaa, but it could not surpass the highest Telugu opener of the year — Ram Charan’s Game Changer, which raked in Rs 51 crore on day one.

The credit for this powerful opening largely goes to the Power Star’s loyal fan base, who showed up in massive numbers across Telugu states. Despite limited promotional activities, the excitement surrounding Kalyan’s return to the big screen helped the film secure large-scale footfalls on its debut.

Day 2 Decline Signals Potential Trouble

However, the box office momentum appears to be facing a setback. On its second day, the film has seen a steep decline in occupancy. Morning shows on Friday (July 25) reportedly recorded just 18% occupancy in Telugu regions: a staggering 72% drop from the opening day’s 64%. Though Friday is a regular working day, such a significant fall could become a red flag if the evening and night shows don’t compensate.

Given its Rs 44.7 crore net opening (including premieres), the film must hold at Rs 15-17 crore today to maintain a stable trajectory heading into the weekend. Anything lower might raise concerns regarding its longer-term sustainability at the box office.

Years in the Making, High Stakes Involved

Directed by Krish and Jyothi Krisna, Hari Hara Veera Mallu is set in the Mughal era and features Kalyan as Veera Mallu, a Robin Hood-like outlaw operating in turbulent times. Nidhhi Agerwal appears as Panchami, a Devadasi, while Bobby Deol plays the role of Emperor Aurangzeb.

The film’s journey to the screen hasn’t been smooth. Originally announced years ago, it suffered multiple delays due to the pandemic and Kalyan’s political commitments. These setbacks only increased anticipation and expectations, making the box office performance even more crucial for the makers.

Interestingly, this is one of the rare instances where Pawan Kalyan took part in promotional activities, a move seen as an attempt to reach beyond his existing fan base.

Weekend Holds the Key

With a front-loaded start and a potentially rocky Friday, all eyes are now on the weekend to determine the film’s actual standing. If the film picks up momentum during Saturday and Sunday, it could still sail smoothly through its first week. However, the mixed word-of-mouth and visible drop in occupancy might force the makers to recalibrate their strategy moving forward.

Whether Hari Hara Veera Mallu becomes a box office juggernaut or ends up as another case of a strong start fizzling out will depend entirely on how the audience responds in the coming days.

For now, the first-day numbers have made a statement. But for a film five years in the making, it will take more than just opening day fireworks to declare victory.

Are you planning to watch Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 - Sword vs Spirit in theaters this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.