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Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to Disney's iconic The Lion King, seems to be benefiting from a relatively quiet week in terms of major film releases. The movie, which delves into the origin story of Mufasa, Simba’s father, has had a promising start at the box office. Early estimates suggest that the film has collected approximately Rs 22.50 crore in its first two days of release.
On Day 2, the film saw a substantial increase in collections, bringing in Rs 13.70 crore. The contributions came from various language versions, with the English version accounting for Rs 5.50 crore, the Hindi version earning Rs 4.50 crore, the Telugu version earning Rs 2 crore, and the Tamil version bringing in Rs 1.7 crore. This marked a 55.68 percent jump in collections compared to the film's opening day.
While the film’s Day 1 collection was initially estimated at Rs 10 crore, the final figure stood at Rs 8.80 crore, with Rs 3.50 crore from the English version and Rs 2.60 crore from the Hindi version. Despite a slightly lower-than-expected Day 1 performance, the film is seeing an upward trend, particularly with the Hindi version featuring the voice of Shah Rukh Khan and Mahesh Babu lending his voice for the Telugu version.
Globally, however, Mufasa: The Lion King is facing stiff competition from Sonic the Hedgehog, which has had a strong international debut. The latter’s global release is scheduled for Christmas, and it remains to be seen how Mufasa performs in the international markets, where it has already had a simultaneous release with its US debut.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King revisits the world of The Lion King to trace the story of Mufasa, from his early days as an orphaned cub to his rise as the revered leader of Pride Rock. The film’s exploration of Mufasa’s journey offers a fresh perspective on the beloved franchise, which continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Despite the tough competition, Mufasa is expected to gain momentum, especially as the international box office heats up in the coming weeks.
