KGF in Japan: How did Rocking Star Yash, Ram Charan fare in comparison to S.S. Rajamouli's RRR?

S.S. Rajamouli's RRR has pulled in crowds all over the globe, but its box office run in Japan is particularly special. Having yielded extraordinary results in its main theatrical run in the months of March and April 2022, the film was given a new boost life later that year in October when it reached Japan. Rajamouli, flanked by his two leading men Ram Charan and Jr. NTR, promoted RRR with great vigour and the same stint also revealed just how much popularity Indian films boast among Japanese audiences.

RRR got off to a superb start at the box office and within no time entered the list of the top five highest-grossing Indian films in Japan. Not very long ago, the film beat the top-ranked film Muthu (1997) in its pursuits and as of today (July 28), it is the most profitable Indian release with close to Rs. 140 crores in collections.

And with similar results in sight, the makers of the KGF franchise opted to take both K.G.F: Chapter 1 and K.G.F: Chapter 2 to Japan, which were released in theatres on July 14, 2023. The films would end up clashing, though, with Ram Charan's other mega success Rangasthalam (2018) but one expected all three (including KGF 1 and KGF 2) to work well. 

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However, both Rangasthalam and the KGF series have delivered slightly subpar results so far. According to the Twitter group Cinema Circuit, which is known for its box office analysis and other updates concerning Indian cinema, KGF 1 and KGF 2 have collectively earned Rs. 1.2 crores (as of July 25) with Rangasthalam, too, faring similarly. 

MNV Gowda, a well-known film enthusiast and Kannada film tracker, reckons that the lack of promotions could be one of the main factors why the KGF films were unable to cash in on the impetus created by RRR. 

"I think one of the main reasons is that three films - Rangasthalam and the two KGF films - released simultaneously. Also, with both KGF films arriving together, it is possible that the audience was split which has been reflected in the collections. Ram Charan, on the other hand, is a known face in Japan, thanks to RRR and Magadheera, which was released many years ago. So, in comparison, Yash sir is a fresh face because none of his previous films have released there. The KGF films weren't promoted either by the makers but RRR was, and quite grandly. And I suppose we cannot expect every film to work the way RRR did. Even though Ram Charan is a known face already, Rangasthalam hasn't done all that well. KGF releasing in Japan could help Kannada films in future," he says.

KGF 2, written and directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Hombale Films, is currently ranked four on the list of highest-grossing Indian films of all time, with RRR taking spot #3. The Telugu film will be dubbed and re-released in Japan on July 28.