Liger box office day 1 collection: Vijay Deverakonda film’s Telugu, Tamil versions open to ‘below par’ ₹25 crore gross

Vijay Deverakonda’s Liger, which released in theatres on Thursday, managed to earn around ₹25 crore worldwide from its Telugu and Tamil versions. As per trade sources, this is a below par opening for the film, whose box office prospects were heavily affected after it opened to mixed reviews. Liger marks the Bollywood debut of Vijay, who is paired opposite Ananya Panday. The pan-India film, about a mixed-martial arts boxer with a stutter, has been directed by Puri Jagannadh. Read more: Fans calls Vijay Deverakonda film wasted opportunity, praise Ramya Krishnan’s effort

Backed by Karan Johar, Liger, which also stars Ramya Krishnan and Ronit Roy, was promoted extensively as a pan-India film. However, the film opened to largely unfavourable responses from the audience with most calling the film ‘formulaic’ and a ‘wasted opportunity’ for Vijay Deverakonda, who spent around three years working on the project.

As per andhraboxoffice.com, Liger’s Telugu and Tamil versions registered a below par opening, given the hype around the film before its release. The film reportedly did a business of ₹24.5 crore gross in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and in the US. Liger’s Hindi version released on Thursday night after 9pm, with most halls screening just one show. Hence, the box office figures for the Hindi version are not out yet.

Many took to Twitter to share their views on Liger after the release of the film’s Telugu and Tamil versions. Some said it lacked a good story and seemed formula-driven, despite Vijay Deverakonda and Ramya Krishnan’s best effort. Liger stars Vijay in the role of an MMA fighter with a stutter, while Ramya essays the role of his mother.

One Twitter user wrote: “Vijay Deverakonda’s transformation (in Liger) is stunning, and he gives a committed performance. But it is a wasted opportunity. The narration is totally formulaic. Where’s the story?” Another user praised the earnest efforts of Vijay and Ramya, but asked why their talent was wasted in a bad film. A person tweeted, “To be honest, Puri Jagannadh’s golden days are over. It’s fine if his films are bad. But why take a star like Vijay Deverakonda and an actor like Ramya Krishna down with you? They are both so earnest in their performances, it breaks your heart to see them in a film that couldn’t care less. It’s so wrong.”

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