Rajinikanth’s Kaala takes on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in box-office showdown

As Kaala readies for release on June 7, Rajinikanth’s fans can’t be blamed for expecting that the film would sweep the competition away. Many producers do not release their films around the time when Rajinikanth’s movies hit the screens the producers of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom do not seem to have any such inhibitions.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is set to take Kaala head on in what can turn out to be an epic box-office battle. With both films releasing in multiple languages, it will be interesting to watch the fight for box-office supremacy.

Produced by Dhanush and directed by Pa. Ranjith, Kaala, a story of uprising set against the backdrop of Mumbai, was originally made in Tamil, but it will be released in Telugu as well as Hindi in dubbed versions. The film is expected to be released in over 2000 screens across the country. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the sequel to 2015’s blockbuster Jurassic World, will release in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in over 2300 screens around the country. According to trade pundits, there will be a neck-to-neck competition between the two films at the box-office.

Trade analyst Trinath says Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom won’t be a pushover. “Being a Rajinikanth film, Kaala definitely has an upper hand, but let’s not forget that the Jurassic World was a box-office sensation in India when it released in 2015. The film minted around Rs. 150 crore from India alone. It’s sure to take a very strong opening, thanks to the franchise’s loyal fan base. In Tamil Nadu, Kaala will definitely have an advantage as it is thalaivar’s home turf.”

The trailer of Kaala was released on Monday and going by the visuals, the film will touch upon the topic of fighting for one’s rights. With dialogues like “our body is our only weapon”, the film’s theme about uprising is sure to resonate strongly, especially in the wake of protests against the Sterlite plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The masses are sure to lap up Kaala, not just because it’s a Rajinikanth film, but mainly because of its theme of fighting for rights.

A leading distributor on the condition of anonymity said that Kaala will undoubtedly do well in Tamil Nadu. But he also pointed out that the film’s uncanny resemblance to Kabali, both in set-up and storyline may not appeal to everybody as some might find it repetitive.

“A lot of people could see traces of Kabali after the release of Kaala trailer last evening. The Kabali hangover could be a turn-off for some people. Nevertheless, Kaala is sure to take a grand opening, thanks to the Rajinikanth phenomenon.”

Kaala marks the second collaboration of Ranjith and Rajinikanth after Kabali. The superstar plays a slum lord-turned-gangster in the film which also features Nana Patekar, Huma Qureshi, Anjali Patil and Pankaj Tripathi in crucial roles. Kaala, according to its director, is about the diverse families with different culture and language that live in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum

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