MUMBAI: Winding up what has been a rather average year for the Indian box office, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 3 Idiots, which is directed by Rajkumar Hirani and distributed by Reliance BIG Pictures, is slated to release with the highest ever print and screen count across the world. The initial reports coming in are fabulous.

3 Idiots released with 1550 prints across 1760 screens worldwide on 25 December, 2009. This surpasses previous big releases like Ghajini, which was released with 1150 prints, Singh is Kinng (1050 prints), Kambhaqt Ishq (1000 prints), Welcome (975 prints) and OSO (975 prints), Love Aaj Kaal and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (950 prints).

In the overseas, the movie released with 342 prints across 366 screens, which is the highest ever so far for a Hindi film. OSO released with 325 prints in the overseas, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – 315 prints, Kambhaqt Ishq and Singh is Kinng – 275 prints, Love Aaj Kal and Ghajini – 250 prints and Welcome released with 200 prints.

Advance booking for movies is considered a thing of the past these days but 3 Idiots has seen bookings of almost 40-45 per cent for the weekend and this is likely to go up as the word spreads. The movie’s show in India began in the evening on Wednesday, 24 December. The 6 pm and 9 pm were going houseful at multiplexes.

With Christmas falling on Friday, multiplexes and single screens alike are expected to be making merry with the crowds thronging for 3 Idiots. Additionally, with excellent reviews and word of mouth, the movie is bound to charter higher ground and set new benchmarks.

3 Idiots stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Boman Irani.