Amid controversy, Vishwaroopam a hit abroad

Kamal Haasan's mega-budget Vishwaroopam is currently on hold in his home state of Tamil Nadu after complaints from Muslim groups led to a temporary ban on the film. However, there is some good news for the Tamil-language film from the US and UK, where it has been making good money after releasing on January 25.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweets: OVERSEAS: Tamil film #Vishwaroopam is superb in USA and very good in UK.

And the figures, from Mr Adarsh: Tamil film #Vishwaroopam *opening weekend* UK  95,676 [Rs 81.23 lacs] on 19 screens ... USA $ 634,912 [Rs 3.43 cr] on 44 screens.

Vishwaroopam, currently under review by the Madras High Court, is actor-director-producer Kamal Haasan's most expensive film, made at a cost of Rs 95 crores. The controversy has held up the film's release in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as well, though many Kamal fans travelled to Kerala, where some theatres managed to show the film.

Vishwaroop, the Hindi version of the film, is meant to release this Friday, February 1.