BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 20 - Ajay Devgn's Dhamaal 4 continues to enjoy a superb run at the Indian box office, delivering a solid second weekend despite competition from Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. The comedy entertainer has held really well after a strong opening week, with family audiences continuing to drive collections across the country. The film's impressive hold has cemented its position as one of the biggest Hindi hits of the year. The Indra Kumar directorial collected an impressive 28.50 crore net in its second weekend, taking its 10-day India net collection to approximately 124.50 crore. The outstanding weekend performance underscores the film's strong word-of-mouth, as it recorded healthy growth on both Saturday and Sunday after a steady second Friday. With this, Dhamaal 4 has comfortably crossed the 100 crore milestone and remains one of the strongest performers in theatres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film has also continued its decent run overseas, taking its worldwide gross collection to around 170 crore in just ten days. The comedy franchise has once again struck a chord with audiences, translating its popularity into impressive global box office numbers. The film has already emerged as one of the highest-grossing Hindi comedy films of the year. From now on, Dhamaal 4 is well on track to achieve another major milestone. If it maintains a steady hold during the weekdays, the Ajay Devgn-starrer is expected to cross the 200 crore worldwide gross mark by the next weekend. With no immediate threat to its target audience, the film is poised to continue its successful run at the box office.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 19 - Director Christopher Nolan has once again expressed his admiration for Indian cinema, this time highlighting S. S. Rajamouli's RRR as a landmark film that demonstrated the industry's ability to connect with audiences across the globe. During his visit to India for the promotions of The Odyssey, the Oscar-winning filmmaker said RRR proved that Indian films have the scale, emotion, and storytelling power to transcend language and cultural barriers, reinforcing the country's growing influence in world cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Speaking about the film's impact, Nolan praised RRR for resonating with viewers worldwide through its universal themes and spectacular cinematic presentation. He noted that the success of Rajamouli's epic reflects the immense creative potential within Indian filmmaking and believes the industry is well-positioned to continue expanding its global footprint as international audiences increasingly embrace stories from different cultures. Nolan also spoke about India's unique movie-going culture, calling it one of the greatest film cultures in the world. He recalled being deeply impressed by the passion of Indian audiences during his earlier visits and said that the enthusiasm for cinema is unlike anything he has experienced elsewhere. According to the filmmaker, this vibrant theatrical culture gives Indian filmmakers a strong foundation to create ambitious films that can succeed both domestically and internationally. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Hearing Christopher Nolan speak about Indian cinema & RRR is a moment we’ll cherish beyond words.From one storyteller’s universe to another… thank you sir. #RRRMovie pic.twitter.com/zNkyYoQQXB— RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) July 19, 2026 Released in 2022, RRR became a global phenomenon, earning widespread acclaim from critics, filmmakers, and audiences across the world. The film went on to create history at the Academy Awards, with "Naatu Naatu" becoming the first song from an Indian film to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. Nolan's latest comments further underline the lasting international legacy of RRR and the growing recognition of Indian cinema as a major force in global filmmaking.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 18 - Christopher Nolan has achieved a new milestone in India as The Odyssey registered the biggest opening day of his career at the Indian box office. The epic fantasy adventure collected 20.75 crore gross on its first day across all languages, surpassing the opening-day collections of the filmmaker's previous blockbuster Oppenheimer (17.50 crore gross) in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The strong debut also ranks among the biggest Hollywood openings ever in India and marks the best start for an international film in 2026. The record-breaking opening was fueled by excellent bookings, packed IMAX shows, and strong occupancy across premium multiplex chains. Christopher Nolan's popularity among Indian audiences, combined with the film's large-scale visuals and positive early word of mouth, translated into impressive footfalls from the very first show. The original English-language screenings led the business with around 16.50 crores gross, while dubbed versions also contributed to the overall tally. With this performance, The Odyssey has overtaken the opening-day numbers of Nolan's previous films, including Oppenheimer, Tenet, Interstellar, and Dunkirk, making it the director's highest opener in India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's performance further reinforces India's growing importance for premium Hollywood releases, particularly those designed for the IMAX experience. The film now heads into its weekend with strong momentum. Given the overwhelmingly positive audience response and sustained demand for premium-format screenings, The Odyssey is expected to post an excellent weekend total, even as it faces competition from domestic releases. Worldwide, The Odyssey scored $40 million through Thursday (Friday numbers not included), including 17.60 million from domestic (North America) previews. The movie is projected to score $110+ million in North America and $120+ million internationally, for the worldwide opening weekend of $230+ million, which will be the biggest non-Batman opening for Nolan.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 18 - Christopher Nolan's film is often treated more as a global event than a standard movie release, and The Odyssey, the most ambitious film of the director's career, is certainly living up to that reputation. For months, the buzz surrounding this project has been building, fueled by Nolan's commitment to large-format practical filmmaking. As the film finally made its debut on July 17, it is not just the technical scale that is making headlines, but the critical and commercial reception as well. With a staggering 95 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, it has officially become the highest-rated film of Nolan's career, surpassing iconic masterpieces like The Dark Knight and Memento. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) To give you some context on how impressive this critical acclaim is, the film currently sits above Oppenheimer and Dunkirk in the director's filmography rankings. This level of praise is undoubtedly a driving force behind the strong turnout we are seeing in India. As for the box office, the film has had an excellent start in India, scoring Nolan's biggest opening with around 21 crores in gross, beating Oppenheimer's 17+ crores gross start. Overall, the worldwide opening day is around $100 million. The Odyssey is eyeing growth on its second day at the Indian box office. For context, the movie sold around 140K tickets in three national chains on the opening day, while second-day sales were around 150K in PIC (PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis). If the momentum continues throughout the day, it will be aiming for 25 crore gross day. As of 9 AM on Day 2, the movie has already scored 1.75+ crores gross, indicating a solid day at the box office. The day 2 started on a strong note, with 25% occupancy in the English 2D version. The movie is once again strong in South Indian states, where overall morning occupancy is around 35%. The IMAX version is super strong. After a 5+ crore gross opening day, the film is heading to score a bigger day in the premium format. Eventually, the movie clocked approximately 26.50 crores gross on its second day, taking 2-days total to 47+ crores gross (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #TheOdyssey is an absolute cinematic masterpiece, where #ChristopherNolan holds your attention from the first frame till the last. The filmmaker packages multiple genres in one film - from love story, and family drama, to action, emotion, adventure, and mythology - and all of… pic.twitter.com/OafDINbItj— Himesh (@HimeshMankad) July 16, 2026 CinemaScore is in for #TheOdysseyASame as Oppenheimer and entire Dark Knight trilogy.RT aud score holding strong at 97%. Moviegoers have spoken! pic.twitter.com/kctYtJBJk7— Gitesh Pandya (@GiteshPandya) July 18, 2026 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #TheOdyssey in #IMAX Review - Magnificent ! Rating : 4/5Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus The Odyssey is an outstanding cinematic experience. A must see in IMAX to get that big screen format feel of a technically brilliant film. The writing, actors along with technical team… pic.twitter.com/nAwJmxfVsh— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) July 17, 2026

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 18 - The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday, celebrating the finest Indian films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during 2024. Article 370 emerged as one of the biggest winners of the ceremony, taking home the prestigious Best Feature Film award, while its lead star Yami Gautam won her maiden National Award for Best Actress. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Among the other major honours, Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Bramayugam) shared the Best Actor award, while Sudipto Sen was named Best Director for The Kerala Story. The award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment went to Kalki 2898 AD, recognising the sci-fi epic's impact both critically and commercially. Several regional films and technical achievements were also recognised across multiple categories, highlighting the diversity of Indian cinema. Notable winners included Srikanth as Best Hindi Feature Film, Lucky Baskhar as Best Telugu Feature Film, Raayan as Best Tamil Feature Film, and Bramayugam, which picked up multiple technical honours in addition to Mammootty's Best Actor win. The awards once again showcased outstanding performances and filmmaking excellence from across the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 72nd National Film Awards 2026 - Winners List Category Winner Best Feature FilmArticle 370 Best ActorKartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion), Mammootty (Bramayugam) Best ActressYami Gautam (Article 370) Best DirectorRajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) Best Supporting ActressRopashree Varkady (Mithya), Sachana Namidass (Maharaja) Best Supporting ActorSanjay Mishra (Bhakshak) Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentKalki 2898 AD Best Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental ValuesCaptain Miller Best Debut Film of a DirectorSwatantrya Veer Savarkar Best Children's Film35 Chinna Katha Kaadu Best Child ArtistRiddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula & Athish S Shetty Best CinematographyShehnad Jalal (Bramayugam) Best Screenplay (Original)Sukumar (Pushpa 2) Best Screenplay (Adapted)Yogesh Deshpande (Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke) Best Dialogue WriterVenky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar) Best Production DesignNitin Zihani Choudhary (Kalki 2898 AD) Best Action DirectionAnl Arasu (Maharaja) Best Make-Up ArtistP Ravi Kumar (Committee Kurrollu) Best Costume DesignDeepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma (Pushpa 2) Best Music DirectionShashwat Sachdev (Article 370) Best Background MusicGV Prakash (Amaran) Best LyricsManoj Muntashir (Maidaan) Best Male Playback SingerAbhay Jodhpurkar – "Gharat Ganpati" (Navasachi Gauri Mazi) Best Female Playback SingerVaikom Vijayalakshmi – "Angu Vaana Konilu" (ARM) Best ChoreographyVijay Ganguly (Stree 2) Best Sound DesignManas Choudhury (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3) Best EditingR Kalaivannan (Amaran) Best Assamese FilmJuiphool Best Bengali FilmChalchitra Ekhon Best Hindi FilmSrikanth Best Kannada FilmMithya Best Malayalam FilmFeminichi Fathima Best Marathi FilmMukkam Post Bombilwadi Best Odia FilmLahari Best Tamil FilmRaayan Best Garhwali FilmDholi Best Telugu FilmCommittee Kurrollu Best Gujarati FilmMaaran Best Manipuri FilmSunita Best Konkani FilmMog Asum Best Tulu FilmIMBU Special MentionDhanush (Captain Miller) & Suren G (Meiyazhagan)

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The highly anticipated Hollywood epic, The Odyssey, has made a thunderous debut at the Indian box office, proving once again that high-concept international cinema has a massive footprint in the domestic market. On its opening day, the film collected a net of 16.10 crore rupees across a wide release of 8,413 shows. This strong start has pushed the total India gross collections to 19.22 crore rupees on day one itself. The narrative's scale and visual ambition seem to have resonated deeply with the Indian audience, particularly in the urban centers where premium screens are driving the revenue. The digital footprint of the film is perhaps even more impressive than the raw collection figures. On the popular ticketing platform BookMyShow, The Odyssey recorded a total of 611.53K tickets sold for its opening day. This was a combination of a very strong pre-sale period, which accounted for over 340,000 tickets, and a massive Friday surge that added another 271,530 tickets. These numbers place the film in elite company, ranking as the fourth-highest Hollywood opener in terms of Day 1 ticket sales on the platform. Here is how the top five Hollywood openers currently stand in terms of BookMyShow Day 1 sales: Deadpool & Wolverine: 842K Avatar: Fire and Ash: 840K The Conjuring: 814K The Odyssey: 612K Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning: 487K (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The trajectory of these pre-sales provides a fascinating look at how the buzz for the film intensified as the release date approached. While the initial weeks of June saw a steady but modest interest, the momentum shifted gears significantly in mid-July. The final three days of the pre-sale period were particularly explosive, with daily bookings jumping from roughly 36,000 to over 114,000 tickets just before the Friday premiere. This surge highlights how the marketing campaign successfully converted general awareness into definitive ticket sales in the final stretch. Here is the detailed daily breakdown of the pre-sale journey on BookMyShow: 8 June: 12.7K 20 June: 8.24K 29 June: 5K 30 June: 5.1K 1 July: 5.52K 6 July: 5K 7 July: 5.4K 9 July: 5K 10 July: 10.46K 11 July: 18.2K 12 July: 20.3K 13 July: 23.01K 14 July: 36.91K 15 July: 63.81K 16 July: 114.84K Final Pre-Sales: 339.49K (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A closer look at the performance in national chains reveals that the film dominated the multiplex environment. According to the daily advance and performance data, the top three chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—accounted for a significant portion of the opening day gross. The total gross from these national chains stood at approximately 9.5 crore rupees from roughly 163,600 tickets sold. PVR led the charge with about 89,400 tickets sold, generating a gross of 5.3 crore rupees. INOX followed with nearly 52,700 tickets contributing 2.9 crore rupees, while Cinepolis added approximately 21,500 tickets with a gross of 1.3 crore rupees. The average occupancy across these chains was a healthy 20.20 percent over 3,745 shows. The Odyssey wave is particularly evident when comparing it to other recent Hollywood releases. By selling over 612,000 tickets on its first day, it comfortably outpaced the opening of Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning, which recorded 487K tickets. This suggests that the film has successfully transitioned from being a niche interest to a mainstream phenomenon in India. The sheer volume of shows—over 8,400 across the country—indicates that distributors had high confidence in the film's appeal, a gamble that appears to have paid off given the 16 crore plus net opening. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As the film enters its first weekend, the momentum is expected to build even further. With very little competition in the high-spectacle genre right now, The Odyssey has a clear path to dominate the premium formats like IMAX and 4DX. If the word-of-mouth remains as strong as the initial ticket sales suggest, we could be looking at one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films of the year in India. The next few days will be crucial to see if the film can maintain its 20 percent plus occupancy rates as it expands its reach beyond the major metros.