The Difference Between Pushpa and Baahubali

Pushpa 2 is set to release soon and is expected to garner an extraordinary response.

The film's target is to match the numbers of Baahubali: The Conclusion, which remains India's highest-grossing film across all versions.

Reports of high sales in various circuits suggest Pushpa 2 needs to come close to Baahubali's performance for buyers to profit, though such pricing, especially in the South and digital markets, is often inflated.

Hindi Market Comparison

Matching the Hindi collections of Baahubali: The Conclusion isn't an unrealistic goal for Pushpa 2, given the current surge in box office revenues and the strong mass appeal of the film.

In terms of mass audiences, the craze for Pushpa 2 could rival or even exceed that of Baahubali. However, its appeal to family audiences may differ, which could affect collections.

While Pushpa 1 is comparable to Baahubali 1 in Hindi, the story is different in the South.

The South Indian market for Baahubali was massive, driven by organic growth, while Pushpa 2 seems to be riding on the hype generated by its Hindi success. This difference is evident in advance bookings, especially in overseas markets.

For instance, in the Gulf region, where Baahubali: The Conclusion hit $10 million pre-pandemic, Pushpa 2 faces a significant gap.

The South and Overseas Factor

In the South, the response to Pushpa 2 will largely depend on the film's content. If it resonates as strongly with Southern audiences as it did with Hindi viewers in the first installment, it could narrow the gap with Baahubali.

However, overseas markets are likely to remain a challenge due to Pushpa 2’s mass-market appeal, which skews heavily toward commercial entertainment.

In contrast, Baahubali: The Conclusion attracted a broad family audience, driven by its epic family drama storyline.

Revenue Targets

For Pushpa 2, the targets are clear: surpass ₹575 crore nett in Hindi and aim for ₹1,000 crore nett across all versions, the benchmark set by Baahubali: The Conclusion.

Of these, the Hindi market appears to be the easier target, given the film’s massive popularity with Hindi-speaking audiences.

Conclusion

While Pushpa 2 has the potential to achieve extraordinary success, it faces an uphill battle to challenge Baahubali: The Conclusion in key areas such as South India and overseas markets.

The final numbers will largely depend on how well the film's content resonates with audiences beyond its core mass appeal.