‘Ultimate Star’ Ajith is often referred to as the King of Opening by the critics. The way his films open leave even his harsh critics spellbound. Mankatha, Ajith’s 50th film, that released on August 31, has broken his previous record of Billa. Mankatha was made at a budget of 30 crore and within ten days of its release, the film had made a business of Rs 36 crore.
Trade sources from Chennai point out that Mankatha, directed by Venkat Prabhu, has grossed the second biggest opening ever in Tamil, after Endhiran. The film, which also has Arjun in a key role along with Trisha and Lakshmi Rai as the heroines, has collected at least Rs. 8 crore on the opening day. On release days, shows began as early as 5 a.m., with 100 per cent attendance. Multiplexes in Chennai, like Satyam, Mayajaal etc, had all of their screens showing Mankatha on the opening day and the collection figures were simply great. Shows went on non-stop from morning till night and die-hard fans of ‘Thala’ Ajith still remained without tickets.
Meanwhile, the actor recently shot a foot-tapping number for Billa. The song, choreographed by Raju Sundaram and composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, was canned in Pondicherry.
Billa 2, which comes after Vishnuvardhan’s Billa, goes back into the past and Billa’s childhood and narrates how he came to be an underworld guy. Chakri Toleti, the director of Unaipol Oruvan, the Tamil remake of A Wednesday, is helming Billa 2.
