Day 1: Nagabandham edges past Rao Bahadur with decent collections

This Friday saw the release of two contrasting Telugu films – Virat Karna’s “Nagabandham” and Satyadev’s “Rao Bahadur.” While “Nagabandham” is mounted as a devotional fantasy with lavish visuals, “Rao Bahadur” is a psychological drama aimed at a niche audience.

As expected, “Nagabandham” took a slight lead at the box office on its opening day. The film grossed Rs 3.7 crore worldwide, with the Telugu version contributing around Rs 3.3 crore. Considering its genre and scale, the opening is regarded as decent.

“Rao Bahadur,” on the other hand, was never expected to register a massive opening due to its unconventional narrative. Despite receiving better reviews, the film will largely depend on positive word-of-mouth over the weekend.

The Satyadev starrer collected Rs 3.4 crore worldwide on its first day. A major highlight was its performance in North America, where it grossed close to Rs 2 crore, helping it post an overall total that is almost on par with “Nagabandham.”

The Saturday and Sunday collections will be crucial for both films. While “Nagabandham” will look to capitalize on its devotional appeal, “Rao Bahadur” needs strong weekend growth driven by positive audience response.