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Rajinikanth’s ‘Kabali’ Opens Strongly Worldwide

KOCHI — “Kabali,” starring cult South Indian superstar Rajinikanth, has opened on a strong note worldwide. The film debuted on July 22 and has collected $36.6 million worldwide in five days of release, according to trade estimates.

This includes a five-day total of $22.3 million in India. In North America the film collected a robust $5 million in its opening weekend.

“Kabali” also earned $29.7 million ahead of its release from sales of satellite, music and other rights, according to producer Kalaippuli S. Thanu of V Creations. The budget of the film is estimated at $12 million.

Written and directed by Pa. Ranjith (“Madras”,) “Kabali” is largely set in Malaysia. Rajinikanth plays a Malaysian mafia don of Indian Tamil ethnicity who is released from prison after 25 years and proceeds to exact revenge on his adversaries.

The film’s Malay dubbed version is set to release on July 29, but will be different from the Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language versions that are currently on release. Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, chair of the Malaysian censor board, has confirmed that several scenes will be shortened by a few seconds and the ending has been altered to convey a message that crime does not pay.

In the film Taiwanese actor Winston Chao uses the word ‘keling’ while addressing Rajinikanth. The term is considered pejorative towards Malay Indians and has also been removed for the Malaysia release.

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