Petta Vs Viswasam LIVE Updates: Rajinikanth Film Opens to a Staggering Rs 3.5 Crore in the US

Here's how fans and celebs are reacting to Rajinikanth's latest release Petta:

Predicting the box office collection of Ajith's Viswasam, film trade analyst Ramesh Bala tweeted, "Viswasam will become Ajith 's Highest Lifetime Grosser in India and Overseas Box office, despite competition." (sic)

#Viswasam will become #Thala #Ajith 's Highest Lifetime Grosser in #India and Overseas Box office, despite competition.. pic.twitter.com/Ptsgd9lbWF

— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) January 10, 2019

Petta actor Simran shared her excitement on the release of the film. "Most memorial day #PettaFromToday. Thank you @karthiksubbaraj the captain of the ship for letting my dream come true! Lots of positive reviews are pouring! My best wishes to #Petta team," she tweeted.

Most memorial day #PettaFromToday😊 Thank you @karthiksubbaraj the captain of the ship for letting my dream come true! Lots of positive reviews are pouring! My best wishes to #Petta team#Rajinified #PettaParaak@Rajinikanth @sunpictures @SonyMusicSouth pic.twitter.com/JN55bMwq8d

— Simran (@SimranbaggaOffc) January 10, 2019

Film trade analyst Ramesh Bala tweeted the US Box office figures of Rajinikanth's Petta. The film opened to a staggering Rs 3.5 crore (USD 5,00,000) in the US. He wrote: "Petta crosses $500K at the US Box office. As of 8:30 PM PST, it has grossed $502K."

#Petta crosses $500K at the #USA Box office.. Premiere

As of 8:30 PM PST, it has grossed $502K

— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) January 10, 2019

Music composer Santosh Narayan, who has previously scored Rajinikanth's Kaala and Kabali, gave his best wishes to the actor and Petta director Karthik Subbaraj on the release of the film. He tweeted: "Best wishes to my dearest Karthik Subbaraj, Anirudh and the energetic team of Petta for a huge success. Thank you dear Thalaivar Rajinikanth sir for constantly changing the game and bringing in such amazing talent."

Best wishes to my dearest @karthiksubbaraj,@anirudhofficial and the energetic team of #Petta for a huge success. Thank you dear Thalaivar @rajinikanth sir for constantly changing the game and bringing in such amazing talent. pic.twitter.com/GYQh3xrV9f

— Santhosh Narayanan (@Music_Santhosh) January 9, 2019

A few shows of Maari 2 and Kanaa have been cancelled in Ram Muthuram Cinemas in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, owing to the release of Ajith's Viswasam.

Due to over crowd from #Thala Fans for the Celebration Marathon of #Viswasam shows of #Maari2 & #Kanaa has been cancelled for tonight !!

— Ram Muthuram Cinemas (@RamCinemas) January 9, 2019

Film critic Kaushik LM is all praise for Petta. He tweeted: "Petta 1st half - Super interesting stuff @karthiksubbaraj. Hardly any dull moment! @DOP_Tirru has crafted each frame so aesthetically like a painting. @anirudhofficial brings all his thalaivar veri to his music console. Vintage #SuperstarRajinikanth batting - One man force." (sic)

#Petta 1st half - Super interesting stuff @karthiksubbaraj. Hardly any dull moment! @DOP_Tirru has crafted each frame so aesthetically like a painting. @anirudhofficial brings all his thalaivar veri to his music console. Vintage #SuperstarRajinikanth batting - One man force 🔥😎

— Kaushik LM (@LMKMovieManiac) January 10, 2019

Film critic Rajasekar called Petta's first half "the most entertaining Rajinikanth's film in recent times."

#Petta first half - The most entertaining #SuperstarRajinikanth in recent times. Rajinism filled through out 👌👌. Feast for all #Thalaivar fans.

— Rajasekar (@sekartweets) January 10, 2019

Karthik Subbaraj had earlier made it clear that his film, Petta, will have nothing to do with politics, saying "I’m aware Rajini sir has been doing political films lately. But my film with him would have nothing to do with politics. It would be a light-hearted film.” 

Talking about his experience working with Rajinikanth in Petta, Karthik Subbaraj told IANS, “It has been my dream to make a film with Rajini sir. I grew up watching his films. And I was sure I would direct a film with him someday. I never thought would happen so early. I went with the story to Rajini sir about a year ago. I never thought he would agree to do it. To my surprise, he had seen my films — from the first one 'Pizza', then 'Jigarthanda' and 'Iraivi'. When Rajini sir said he had seen all my films, I was happier than I can explain."

Petta director Karthik Subbaraj shared his excitement on Twitter. "Petta response is so overwhelming and awesome. Thank you Thalaivar fans. Love you Thalaiva. Thank you @sunpictures & whole TEAM! One sincere request: PLS DONT SHARE FILM CLIPS FROM THEATRE. PLS DONT REVEAL THE STORY. Let everybody #GetRajinified like you did!" (sic)

#Petta response is so overwhelming and awesome...Thank you Thalaivar fans...Love you Thalaivaaaaaa...Thank you @sunpictures & whole TEAM!!

One sincere request: PLS DONT SHARE FILM CLIPS FROM THEATRE.. PLS DONT REVEAL THE STORY... Let everybody #GetRajinified like you did!! 🙏😊

— karthik subbaraj (@karthiksubbaraj) January 10, 2019

A fan of Rajinikanth tied the knot with her beau at Chennai's Woodlands theatre, where the actor's latest release Petta was being screened. 

Talking about Nayanthara's role in Viswasam, film trade analyst Ramesh Bala wrote: "Nayanthara is gorgeous and has a meaty role. She had to confront Ajith 's character. She has done it well. Her romantic chemistry with Ajith has worked out well. One of the reasons why general audience will love this movie is their pairing."

#Viswasam [4/5]: #Nayanthara is gorgeous and has a meaty role.. She had to confront #Thala #Ajith 's character..

She has done it well..

Her romantic chemistry with #Thala #Ajith has worked out well.. One of the reasons why general audience will love this movies is their pairing

— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) January 10, 2019

Film trade analyst Ramesh Bala has called Viswasam a "blockbuster". Praising Ajith's performance in the film, Bala said the actor simply rocks in his two get-ups-- young and salt-and-pepper.look, adding "as young, he has to be playful and do lot of comedy and as middle-aged, he is matured and dignified."

#Viswasam [4/5]: A Perfect Entertainer with Father - Daughter relationship as it's emotional core..#Thala #Ajith simply rocks in his two get-ups.. Young and Salt-n-Pepper..

As young, he has to be playful and does lot of comedy.. As middle-aged, he is matured and dignified..

— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) January 10, 2019

Pillai also heaped praise on Ajith's Viswasam by calling it an enjoyable masala entertainer. Tweeting about the film, he wrote: "Viswasam Neatly packaged with all essential ingredients that go into making an enjoyable mass entertainer. Complete #Thala show." (sic)

#Viswasam Neatly packaged with all essential ingredients that go into making an enjoyable mass entertainer. Complete #Thala show.

— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) January 9, 2019

Film critic Sreedhar Pillai is all praise for Rajinikanth's Petta. Praising Rajinikanth's performance in the film, Pillai wrote, "Petta, it's pure vintage Superstar Rajinikanth. The style, swag, mannerism, is back with a bang and strong supporting cast of fine actors -@VijaySethuOffl @Nawazuddin_S pitted against him is a major +.@karthiksubbaraj handles @rajinikanth well & last 15 minutes is Wow!" (sic)

#Petta It's pure vintage #SuperstarRajinikanth. The style,swag, mannerism, is back with a bang and strong supporting cast of fine actors -@VijaySethuOffl @Nawazuddin_S pitted against him is a major +. @karthiksubbaraj handles @rajinikanth well & last 15 minutes is WoW!

— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) January 10, 2019

Film critic Sridevi Sreedhar gives a thumbs up to Ajith Kumar's Viswasam. Lauding the onscreen chemistry of Ajith and Nayanthara in the film, she tweeted, "Viswasam: Perfectly packaged, template, clean commercial mass masala for Pongal. Ajith is awesome as Thookudurai  and loved Nayanthara who has a superb role and she shines. The pair rocks." (sic)

#viswasam: Perfectly packaged, template, clean commercial mass masala for Pongal. #ThalaAjith is awesome as #Thookudurai and loved #Nayanthara who has a superb role and she shines 😍The pair rocks ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uTw4mAEeZu

— sridevi sreedhar (@sridevisreedhar) January 9, 2019

The mass hysteria and high-pitched screaming that characterised megastar Rajinikanth's fan following spread nationwide as the hype and hoopla marks the release of his latest film Petta. Watch the video:

#Petta | Will Rajinikanth be able to enthrall his fans one more time? Check out our LIVE blog: https://t.co/gCuJ6zJryQ pic.twitter.com/aOvZv8u8WV

— News18 Movies (@News18Movies) January 10, 2019

Dhanush is all praise for Rajinikanth's Petta. Calling the film "epic",  Dhanush tweeted: "love you thalaivaaaaa ... tharamaana sambavam senjiteenga. Congrats to the whole team. @karthiksubbaraj .. big big big thank you .. we are indeed #rajinified .. Anirudh .. your best bgm work till date. Petta paraaaaaaak!!!" (sic)

#petta is EPIC ... superstar .. love you thalaivaaaaa ... tharamaana sambavam senjiteenga. Congrats to the whole team. @karthiksubbaraj .. 🙏🙏🙏🙏 big big big thank you .. we are indeed #rajinified .. Anirudh .. your best bgm work till date. Petta paraaaaaaak !!!!

— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) January 10, 2019

According to trade analyst Sreedhar Pillai, there are about 1200 screens in Tamil Nadu and both films can expect about 600-700 screens each. He tweeted, “In TN both will get around 650-700 screens with a maximum number of them being shared. There may not be individual records as b-o gets divided, but the combined numbers are going to be Huge!"

Big releases during the Pongal weekend is not new, but cinema owners are worried the films will eat into each other's business. Both the stars have their own fan following and there will be no clear winner at the box office.

Ahead of Petta release, director Karthik Subbaraj has requested movie reviewers to "keep the surprises in the film undisclosed so that every single viewer out there gets to experience the fullness of the cinematic experience and Thalaivarism that 'Petta' has to offer." 

While Rajinikanth is back in action with Karthik Subbaraj's Petta, Ajith Kumar is set to entertain the audience with an out-and-out commercial potboiler Viswasam. For the first time in 13 years, another star film is releasing along with a Rajinikanth film on the same day.

On the occasion of Pongal, South movie lovers are being treated with the pleasure of witnessing an epic box office clash between two of Tamil movie industry's biggest superstars Rajinikanth and Ajith Kumar.