Ram Pothineni’s ‘iSmart Shankar’ off to a flyer; Global gross of Rs 16 crore on Day 1

Thanks to the thunderous advance openings, ‘iSmart Shankar’ released on a strong note at the box-office. The reception has been fantastic from all quarters and the action-thriller seems to have satisfied the long-awaited thirst of the mass audience. Along with Puri Jagan’s trademark dialogues, the kick-ass performance of Ram, thumping background score by Mani Sharma and the drool-worthy act of both the leading ladies are creating a rage in the theaters. Meanwhile, according to trade sources, ‘iSmart Shankar’ has accumulated a worldwide gross of over Rs 16 crore on the first day and proved to be the biggest opener in Ram Pothineni’s career. Though the reviews are mixed, audience are thronging into the theaters to catch a glimpse of this mass masala. The massive opening is proof enough that Puri Jagannadh is back with a bang. It might not be his best film like ‘Pokiri’, but it’s certainly his most watchable film in recent years. Jointly bankrolled by Puri and Charmee Kaur, the plot of ‘iSmart Shankar’ revolves around an aggressive street-smart guy who gets a mobile SIM card inserted into his head under mysterious circumstances. Gorgeous bombshells Nabha Natesh and Nidhhi Agerwal played the female leads in this commercial entertainer.