Virupaksha, the recently released Telugu film starring Sai Dharam Tej in the lead role, has collected Rs 12 crore on day one of its release, at the box office, the makers announced on Saturday.

Virupaksha is the sophomore directorial of Karthik Dandu, who made his debut with the 2015 film Bham Bholenath. The film has story by Sukumar. Virupaksha also features Samyuktha, Sai Chand, Brahmaji, Sunil, Ajay, among others. The film released on Friday to positive reviews.

“The film, more often than not, feels like homage to the filmography of M Night Shyamalan, setting up its story gradually, with increasing levels of fear and ominousness while grounding it in strong psychological undercurrents,” reads CE review of the film.

Set in the early 90s, when people mysteriously begun to die in the village of Rudravanam, Virupaksha centres around Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), a city-bred boy to rise up to the occasion and save a village in crisis, and his ladylove Nandini (Samyuktha). Virupaksha is a mystical thriller with inspired horror coupled with the incorporation of sorcery and social commentary.

The post-theatrical rights of the film are bagged by Netflix.