Zee will release Punjabi film Puaada on 12th August in Punjab, Delhi and Overseas. With the lockdown last year and then the second lockdown this year, the temptation for Zee to premiere the film digitally was huge. If Hindi films could be streamed on OTT platforms by bypassing theatrical release, why not a Punjabi film?
However, the producers of Puaada — Atul Bhalla, Pawan Gill, Anurag Singh, Aman Gill and Balwinder Singh Janjua — prevailed upon Zee to hold on for some time. And then some more time. The five producers were confident because they had made the film. But more admirable was the fact that Zee, which had acquired the film’s theatrical, satellite, digital and audio rights from them, believed in their confidence. They agreed to wait for the cinemas to reopen. When the Punjab government announced in June 2021 that cinemas in the state could reopen at 50% capacity, the news came like music to the ears of both, the film’s producers and Zee. The Delhi administration followed with a similar announcement around the end of July. By then, cinemas abroad had already reopened. The stage seemed to be set for Puaada to hit the screens.
Going by the advance booking figures in India and Overseas, it looks like Zee couldn’t have been more right in holding on till the cinemas reopened. Take a look at the number of tickets sold for the first day (Thursday, August 12):
Elante, Chandigarh 72 (68 tickets of Kabir Singh had been sold for the first day till Tuesday 4 p.m.)
Cinepolis, Mohali 40
PVR Silver Arc, Ludhiana 70 (14 tickets of Kabir Singh had been sold for the first day till Tuesday 4 p.m.)
Cinepolis, Ludhiana 40
PVR MBD, Jalandhar 72 (40 tickets of Kabir Singh had been sold for the first day till Tuesday 4 p.m.)
PVR Curo, Jalandhar 79 (20 tickets of Kabir Singh had been sold for the first day till Tuesday 4 p.m.)
PVR, Amritsar 24 (7 tickets of Kabir Singh had been sold for the first day till Tuesday 4 p.m.)
CPL Mall, Amritsar 52
PVR Pacific, Delhi 105
If the advance booking for the film, starring Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa, is very good in India, considering especially the pandemic scenario in the country, the position in Canada and the UK is even better. Given hereinbelow are the first day figures:
Strawberry Hill, Surrey 7 p.m. show: 125 out of 191 tickets sold (65.4%)
Strawberry Hill, Surrey 10 p.m. show: 116 out of 183 tickets sold (63.39%)
Silver City, Brampton 7 p.m. show: 56 out of 115 tickets sold (51.5%)
Silver City, Brampton 10 p.m. show: 55 out of 91 tickets sold (60.4%)
Courtney Park, Mississauga 6.30 p.m. show: 31 out of 66 tickets sold (47%)
Courtney Park, Mississauga 10 p.m. show: 39 out of 62 tickets sold (63%)
Cineplex, Mississauga 6.45 p.m. show: 53 out of 144 tickets sold (36.8%)
Cineplex, Mississauga 10 p.m. show: 46 out of 179 tickets sold (26%)
Looking to the craze for the film and the impressive advance booking, screens are still being added in Canada!
The number of tickets sold for the first day at Feltham in the UK:
12.40 p.m. show 33
4.40 p.m. show 30
7 p.m. show 60
8.20 p.m. show 57
Total: 180 tickets sold for day 1.
The litmus test for the film would be when it comes before the audiences two days from now. But as they say, well begun is half done!