It was curtain-up for Yash-starrer Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) on Friday despite an ex interim stay order issued by a Bengaluru civil court. Theatres theatres across the city screened the film to housefull shows.
Any uncertainty over the release of the KGF following a court order on Thursday calling for a stay on the release of the film were quelled after shows opened as early as 4 am in Bengaluru. "We are hopeful that the case in the civil court will be taken back," said Karthik Gowda, the executive producer of the film.
The shows began at 4 am in theatres in the city including the iconic Urvashi Theatre. Large crowds were reported in many theatres like Rex Theatre on Brigade Road and Narthaki Theatre at Chickpet where a large cut-out of Yash has been erected.
Just out of the theatre after watching #KGF If you’re searching for the strongest shoulders in the world, look no further ... @TheNameIsYash is a monster! Haven’t experienced such star power in a long long time. Loved @vasishtansimha too! KGF is a gold mine
— Danish Sait (@DanishSait) December 21, 2018
#Bengaluru #Kgf behind the scene
— Ashwini M Sripad (@AshwiniMS_TNIE) December 21, 2018
Two crazy fans climbing up to fix the huge garland to actor @TheNameIsYash cutout outside Narthaki theatre @kannada_films @NewIndianXpress #BengaluruaJana pic.twitter.com/AjhPwm42KY
Best thing about the KGF project is that it has given the scale for KFI to go the next level and be a player at the high table of film industries like Hindi, Tamil & Telugu. Hope sensible leadership takes over KFI & leverages this opportunity.
— Ganesh Chetan (@ganeshchetan) December 21, 2018
#KGF craze pic.twitter.com/NgcW5mqZhb
— naveenkumar (@naveenk66116650) December 21, 2018
The film released in over 400 theatres in the state and in over 2,400 theatres in the country as per trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
#KGF screen count...
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) December 21, 2018
Hindi: 1500
Kannada: 400
Telugu: 400
Tamil: 100
Malayalam: 60
Total: 2460 screens
The film opened to an overwhelmingly positive audience reaction particularly in Karnataka. Several shows in Bengaluru were sold out throughout the day.
However, the jury is still out on how well the film does after it was simultaneously released in five languages giving it a pan-India release alongside Shah Rukh Khan starrer Zero and Vijay Sethupathi's Seethakathi in Tamil. Released in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu, the film has all the makings of a South Indian action film including over-the-top action sequences with the screen presence of Yash carrying the film.
On Thursday, the 10th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court in Bengaluru ordered a stay against the release of the film.
This after a petition was filed by a person called Venkatesh G against Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films, and Lakshmi Narayana of Arya Films. Venkatesh had moved the court seeking a temporary injunction on the release of KGF claiming that the film is based on the life of notorious rowdy Thangam and that he held rights for the story. Another petition was also filed against the film’s makers alleging that it was defaming Kolar Gold Fields.