Martin, directed by A.P. Arjun and starring Dhruva Sarja, has had a fantastic start in Karnataka, grossing Rs 6 crore on its opening day, making it Dhruva Sarja’s biggest solo opening to date. However, the film has struggled to gain traction outside Karnataka, with its collections outside the state barely crossing Rs 1 crore. Despite this, the film has surpassed the opening day collections of Hindi releases like Jigra and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video on a national level, with a total of around Rs 6.75 crore in India.
The strong start in Karnataka, aided by the Dussehra holiday, is expected to help *Martin* have a solid weekend in its home state, even though critical reception has been lukewarm. The movie’s ambition to make a pan-India impact has fallen short, partly due to delays in its release and a treatment that hasn’t resonated with wider audiences. This performance has cast doubts over the viability of a planned sequel, as such large-scale projects require pan-India success to justify a second installment.
Martin follows the story of Lt. Brigadier Arjun Saxena, a memory-loss-stricken Indian army agent searching for his true identity. The film blends themes of patriotism, romance, and action, as Arjun’s journey takes him from India to Pakistan while he simultaneously battles black market dealers and terrorists. Despite its shortcomings, Martin has positioned Dhruva Sarja as a potential future star in the Kannada film industry, and his career could rise even further if he makes the right choices moving forward.
