Maharaja Box Office Collection Day 1 (China): Vijay Sethupathi’s action-packed thriller Maharaja has marked an impressive debut at the China box office, becoming a significant milestone for Indian cinema in the region. Directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, the Tamil suspense film grossed over Rs 10 crores on its opening day, including earnings from previews, establishing itself as one of the best-performing Indian films in China post-pandemic.

As per Sacnilk, Maharaja premiered in China on November 29, with early screenings collecting approximately Rs 5.4 crores ($635K or ¥4.6 million). The film’s first full day of release added ₹4.65 crores ($550K) to its tally, according to ENT Group, a local box office tracker. This brings the total opening-day collection to $1.18 million (₹10 crores gross). The movie also achieved 100K admissions on its debut day, with total footfalls reaching around 220K so far.

Renowned industry tracker Ramesh Bala shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Maharaja debuted at the fifth position in China’s daily box office rankings. It was screened across 32,621 shows, reflecting the film’s strong demand.

Maharaja holds the distinction of being the first Indian film to be released in China after the recent diplomatic normalization between the two countries. The breakthrough agreement, aimed at resolving border tensions in Eastern Ladakh, paved the way for cultural exchanges like this.

Tamil cinema’s foray into the Chinese market is further boosted by the film’s high ratings on local platforms. State-run Global Times reported that Maharaja has an impressive 8.7/10 on Douban, one of China’s leading movie review websites, making it one of the highest-rated Indian films in recent years.

The release of Maharaja coincided with the debuts of two major competitors: Hollywood’s Gladiator II and the local drama Her Story. Despite the stiff competition, the Vijay Sethupathi-starrer managed to carve a niche for itself, thanks to its gripping storyline and powerful performances by a stellar cast that includes Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas and Natty Natraj.

The film, which initially hit Indian screens on June 14, was a massive hit domestically. With the addition of its Chinese earnings, Maharaja has now grossed Rs 116 crores worldwide. Industry experts predict a strong weekend ahead, with solid advance bookings hinting at sustained success. Indian films, particularly those with universal themes, have historically resonated well with Chinese audiences. Blockbusters like Dangal and Secret Superstar have set the stage for Indian cinema to thrive in China.

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