Yash's KGF Chapter I Becomes Kannada Cinema's First Film To Release in Pakistan - Read Deets

While Telugu and Tamil cinema got their opportunities to shine in the Northern territories of India (looking at you, Baahubali and 2.0), the fag end of 2018 also gave a Kannada film to do an opportunity to shine. Disregarding the lukewarm reviews, KGF Chapter I has managed to win over the box office, both in South and North of India, as well as overseas. Its Hindi version has also managed to do decent business, earning over Rs 40 crore at the box office. KGF Box Office Collection: Yash and Srinidhi Shetty Starrer Is a Hit in Hindi, Collects Rs 42 Crore.

Now, in a very interesting development, KGF Chapter I has also released in Pakistan, and from a report in The News Minute, is doing a good business there. The news was confirmed by Harish Mallya, one of the organisers of the Bangalore Film Festival to the publication. He had said, "The film was released on Friday in Pakistan and from the executive producer, we hear that it is running well. They have released the Hindi dubbed version of the movie and it is being received well across several multiplexes in Lahore and Islamabad. We understand it is doing quite well, although the distributors have not shared exact box office collection." KGF Actor, Yash's Fan Commits Suicide Outside his Residence; Actor Reacts Saying 'This is Not Fandom or Love'.

So what is it about KGF Chapter I that is clicking with the audience of our neighbouring country, despite being a South movie? The buzz definitely worked in favour of the film, but there are other factors to look at here. Mallya added, "There is a lot of appreciation and almost a similar form of interest that was noticed in rest of the country. This is the first Kannada film getting screened in Pakistan officially. Before this, there was a talk about Pawan Kumar’s Lucia being released but eventually, it was restricted only to film festivals.” KGF Box Office Collection: Yash Starrer Is Still Minting Money, Collects Rs 37.20 Crore in Hindi.

Popular South critic and industry watcher Sreedhar Pillai also shared similar views, as he spoke to the website. He noted, "The first half of KGF was set in Mumbai. So it has a North Indian connect. Nativity matters in films that are dubbed. A South Indian village-based subject might not do well if it is dubbed in North India. Also, the subject of mining is something that people in Pakistan too can connect with. And the film has plenty of action, which is a universal favourite."

KGF Chapter I has now grossed more than Rs 200 crore worldwide, while braving the big threats of Shah Rukh Khan's Zero, Ranveer Singh's Simmba and recently, Rajinikanth's Petta and Ajith's Viswasam in the process.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 14, 2019 04:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).