The big box office clash this week is between Akshay Kumar-led Housefull 5 and Kamal Haasan’s much-awaited Thug Life. While both films cater to entirely different audiences — one a Hindi comedy franchise directed by Tarun Mansukhani and the other a Tamil action drama directed by Mani Ratnam — the numbers pouring in from advance bookings are making this face-off an intriguing one as both the films are releasing just one day apart.As per the latest advance booking data, Housefull 5 has sold 1,16,746 tickets across India, grossing Rs 3.63 crore in advance sales as per Sacnilk, with block seats taking the number up to Rs 8.47 crore. The film, which is set for a wide release across 14,000+ shows, is showing promising trends in metro cities and single screens alike.On the other hand, Thug Life, which released today, has recorded a solid Rs 6.16 crore in advance bookings, selling 3,58,742 tickets across 11,357 shows. Including block seats, the film has touched Rs 13.89 crore, making it one of the strongest pre-release responses for a Tamil film this year. What’s more, the early reports from audiences have been extremely positive, with social media already buzzing about Kamal Haasan’s performance and Mani Ratnam’s gripping storytelling.Till morning 10 AM- the film has already eaned around Rs 2 crore from morning shows which began at 9 AM. Trade expects Thug Life to easily breach the Rs 20 crore mark on its opening day, fueled by strong word-of-mouth, especially in Tamil Nadu and Telugu states. The film’s Hindi version has made a modest start but is expected to pick up over the weekend due to positive reviews and crossover interest.Thug Life is at a loss in one state – Karnataka. Following the language row and court hearing Kamal Haasan- the actor and producer of the film decided to not release the film in the state. The question now is whether Housefull 5, which releases tomorrow, can surpass Thug Life’s first-day numbers. Historically, the Housefull franchise has delivered big openings, and with an ensemble cast and comic entertainment value, it has a shot at challenging Thug Life’s day-one total — provided it converts its advance bookings into solid spot bookings and walk-ins.As things stand, Housefull 5 will need to cross the Rs 20 crore opening day figure to stay ahead in this box office clash. All eyes are on tomorrow’s collections to see which film emerges the true winner.Housefull 5 features names like Abhishek Bachchan, Ritiesh Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Sonam Bajwa, Chitrangada SIngh, Nargis Fakhri while Thug Life has names like STR, Trisha, Ali Fazal and Rohit Saraf.
