Nayanthara and Kavin’s romantic comedy ‘Hi’ has opened its theatrical run with an estimated ₹1.25 crore net collection in India on Day 1, according to box-office tracker Sacnilk. The film, directed by debutant Vishnu Edavan, released in Tamil and Telugu on August 28.The film recorded an overall 33% occupancy across 786 shows on its opening day. Its India gross collection stood at around ₹1.44 crore, with the Tamil version emerging as the primary contributor.

Tamil version drives opening-day numbers

The Tamil version collected approximately ₹1.15 crore net from 628 shows, recording 36% overall occupancy. The Telugu version added around ₹10 lakh from 158 shows, with occupancy of 21%.Tamil Nadu remained the film’s biggest market, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and other parts of India contributed smaller amounts to the opening-day total.The film’s opening comes amid competition from major releases, including Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, which is also running in theatres.

What is ‘Hi’ about?

Hi follows Mayilsamy, played by Kavin, a man who has faced repeated romantic rejection. His life takes an unexpected turn after he meets Devayani, portrayed by Nayanthara.Devayani is attempting to escape an arranged marriage. Her father, played by Prabhu, has accepted ₹57 lakh from the prospective groom’s family. Mayilsamy becomes involved in the situation and claims that Devayani is pregnant with his child, setting off a series of comic complications.The film also features Radhika Sarathkumar, VTV Ganesh, Sathyan and the late K. Bhagyaraj in important roles. Jen Martin has composed the music, while Vishnu Edavan has written and directed the film.

Can ‘Hi’ pick up over the weekend?

While the opening-day numbers are modest, the film will now rely on weekend growth and audience word-of-mouth to improve its theatrical run.The film has received positive comments for the chemistry between Kavin and Nayanthara, with Cinema Express describing their pairing as one of the film’s strengths.The next two days will therefore be important for Hi, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where the film has generated the majority of its initial business.