Smelling ginormous business opportunity for visually spectacular films in India, Fox Star Studios India decided to release James Cameron's magnum opus Avatar in a big way, with a whopping 700 prints in English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil on the 18th. Their estimations came true, when, by the weekend, the film reportedly grossed an unimaginable Rs. 22 cr. for a Hollywood film in the country. Latest reports indicate that the film has collected Rs. 40 cr. by the day before Christmas. No surprise, given the fact that the film has collected Rs. 1,900 cr. around the world in its first week.

The science-fiction wonder, overtaking even the apocalyptic giant film 2012, scorched the Indian movie market for well over a week in four languages, despite the presence of many much-awaited films in the fray, like Paa, 3 Idiots, Rocket Singh in Hindi and many more regional films.

If the film is a wonder, it's box office performance is an equally wonderful opportunity for the exhibitors and buyers of Hollywood bonanzas. The film, while throwing up a hint that the audience are ready to patronise visual flourish, also tells that along with Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood and Mollywood (Kerala), Hollywood business is something to reckon with from this year. Two films, 2012 and this, opening to flabbergasting run in multiplexes and single-screen theatres, is one of the finest factoids of year 2009.

Watch 'Avatar' Trailer