'Kingdom' Box Office Collection Day 1: Vijay Deverakonda’s Film Opens With ₹15 Crore With Mixed Reviews

Not a bad start, but not record-breaking

The ₹15 crore opening puts Kingdom in the box office performance range of good openers at least for Telugu cinema standards. But based on the cosmopolitan hype and the star-power of Deverakonda, the numbers come a bit short. Analysts were projecting better collections based on pre-release buzz, amped up promotions and a wide release of the film across multiple states. 

Unlike Liger, which was a pan-India release backed by a large production house and a massive marketing blitz, Kingdom maintained some groundedness. Still, the film drew numbers and was able to get audiences into the theatre seats for its opening week especially in Telugu-speaking regions, where Deverakonda retains a fiercely loyal fan following.

Audience Response and Critical Reception

Response on Opening Day was mixed. Some people praise performances, specifically Deverakonda’s matured portrayal of a conflicted warrior prince. Others mentioned the film had some gaps in emotion and problems with pacing. Director Gowtam Tinnanuri is best known for his unquestionably acclaimed film Jersey, and therefore has a noted style of story telling, but ultimately Kingdom has an emotional disconnect. 

On social media, there were mixed responses from fans. Some called it grand in terms of visuals and garnered a lot of praise about the background music, but there were comments about predictable screenplay and that the film did not push innovative storytelling. Bhagyashri Borse, in her debut role, received a warm reaction for her performance and screen presence, which at least brought fresh charm to the otherwise male centric story.

Comparisons With Liger

Inevitably, comparisons with Liger were going to occur. While Liger had a better opening, it was poorly received by critics and audiences alike. On the other hand, while the Kingdom did not open to the big numbers it could have opened well but it has a clearer pathway in the coming days for growth, if it receives good word of mouth.

The Road Ahead

As many more major releases come out over the next few weeks, Kingdom will have a short window of time to make an impact. Still, with Deverakonda's popularity and the intrigue around Tinnanuri's direction, the movie is in with a chance. Whether or not it can ultimately hit or beat the lifetime haul of Liger, it has established a solid starting point. For now, the filmmakers and fans will be optimistic that it can build some momentum over the weekend and redeem itself at the box office.