NEW DELHI: Sridevi-starrer Mom has recorded an impressive start in China with three-day opening weekend collections of $5.95 million ( ₹41.7 crore), making it the eighth highest weekend for an Indian film of all time in the neighbouring country. The film is trending better than last month’s Indian release Andhadhun that had made $ 13.72 million ( ₹95.38 crore) over a five-day extended weekend.
Now remembered as lead actor Sridevi’s last release before her untimely demise, one that also won her the National Award for best actor, Mom had made ₹31.27 crore upon its release in India in 2017.
“Mom debuts at the number four position at the China box office (opens better than last month’s Andhadhun). Although the start is good, the business needs to witness an upturn on Saturday and Sunday for a healthy weekend total," trade analyst Taran Adarsh had tweeted after the thriller drama’s $1.64 million ( ₹11.47 crore) opening day.
As far as opening weekends go, Mom lags behind all-time blockbusters like Secret Superstar ($27.18 million), Hindi Medium ($15.7 million), Dangal ($12.5 million), Toilet: Ek Prem Katha ($9.09 million), Bajrangi Bhaijaan ($8.5 million), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion ($7.6 million) and Andhadhun ($6.1 million).
To be sure, Mom is the latest addition to the trend of Indian films having bounced back to reclaim the game in China. Last month, black comedy thriller Andhadhun finished at $45.59 million (Rs. 318.85 crore) in the country, emerging as the third highest grossing Indian film there after Dangal and Secret Superstar. This was after a long unimpressive spell where Indian films hadn’t really managed the best run in China though the market has emerged as a goldmine in the past few years.
Yash Raj Films’ action adventure Thugs of Hindostan only managed $4.71 million ( ₹32.93 crore) over its opening weekend in China this December while Akshay Kumar’s biographical drama Padman registered an unimpressive total of $3.55 million ( ₹25.54 crore) earlier that month. Before that, comedy drama 102 Not Out had made $3.56 million ( ₹25.06 crore) in the neighbouring country while India’s blockbuster war epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion too had only managed about $11.9 million ( ₹80 crore).
