‘Ramayana: Part I’, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, has maintained its strong momentum at the Indian box office on its first Sunday. The mythological epic recorded an impressive Rs. 25.29 crore nett across all languages by 12 noon on November 8, according to early trade estimates. The figure marks a significant jump over its collections at the same time on each of its previous three days. However, with Sunday coinciding with Diwali and Lakshmi Puja, the film’s evening business could face some pressure as festivities are likely to keep a section of moviegoers occupied.Ramayana Movie ReviewA comparison of its day-wise performance at the corresponding reporting time highlights the film’s steady growth. ‘Ramayana’ had collected Rs. 20.37 crore nett by noon on its opening day, November 5. The figure dipped to approximately Rs. 10 crore on Friday before recovering to Rs. 17.84 crore on Saturday. Sunday’s Rs. 25.29 crore nett collection is a 41.76% jump over Saturday and 24.15% higher than its opening-day figure at the same time. The film has more than doubled Friday’s corresponding collection.The Sunday trend comes after the film registered its biggest single-day collection on Saturday, earning Rs. 67.80 crore nett. Its strong start on Day 4 indicates sustained audience interest, although the eventual collection will depend on how well it holds up during the evening.The film recorded 35.9% morning occupancy on Sunday, which rose to 39% during afternoon shows. Evening occupancy was reported at 46.7% in provisional figures, with the numbers subject to change as more show data comes in. According to Sacnilk, ‘Ramayana’ had collected Rs. 11.69 crore nett on Sunday by 10:03 AM, taking its total India net collection to Rs. 194.39 crore in four days. The Hindi version contributed Rs. 8.32 crore, followed by Kannada at Rs. 1.36 crore, Telugu at Rs. 1.28 crore and Tamil at Rs. 73 lakh. These are live estimates and are expected to be revised as the day’s collections are updated.Diwali and Lakshmi Puja could, however, prove to be a key factor in determining the film’s final Sunday total. The evening is traditionally reserved for prayers and celebrations, with families attending pujas at home and visiting friends and relatives. This can affect theatrical footfalls even for films enjoying strong audience interest. It remains to be seen whether ‘Ramayana’ can sustain its momentum despite the festive-day challenge.Karnataka and Maharashtra have emerged as the leading contributors to the film’s Sunday collections so far, with Bengaluru and Mumbai among its strongest-performing cities.Sacnilk figures to incorporate: Its live tracker, updated at 10:03 AM on November 8, estimated Day 4 collections at Rs. 11.69 crore nett, taking the film’s cumulative India net collection to Rs. 194.39 crore.