Sriram Raghavan’s much-applauded directorial venture ‘Andhadhun’ is creating waves across the world! It is on its way to setting a new benchmark for Hindi films in China where it was released on April 3, 2019 under the title -‘The Piano Player’. Produced by Sanjay Routray’s Matchbox Pictures, the film starring AyushmannKhurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte among others, has earned more than a whopping Rs 200 crores in this overseas market, in just 13 days and is running to packed houses there. It’s now in the top 10 list of all time non-Hollywood, non-Chinese films in this market! Industry trade observers are of the opinion that this film may well cross the Rs300 crore mark in this market in the coming days providing that the strong content resonates with the audiences cutting across language and cultural boundaries. While its successful China run continues, the icing on the cake came when the film got a standing ovation as the opening film at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) on Thursday in the presence of the leading lady Tabu, director SriramRaghavan and Sanjay Routray. Routray, who helms Matchbox Pictures, says, “This April has been especially exciting for all of us at Matchbox Pictures! On the one hand, our film ‘Andhadhun’ has raked in Rs200crore collection on the Chinese box office within 13 days of its release and still going strong and on the other hand, it received a standing ovation as the opening film at the prestigiousIFFLA on Thursday night. It was an honour to be at this screening along with Raghavan and Tabu. We are overjoyed that his vision and our film is being celebrated across the world now.” Earlier talking about the film’s successful China release, Raghavan had said, “What can I say? We had no idea that our little ‘experimental film’ would travel so much. Experimental doesn’t mean no fun. The film I learn is screening in both subtitled and dubbed versions in different screens. My whole team is super thrilled.” While its successful China run continues, the icing on the cake came when the film got a standing ovation as the opening film at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) on Thursday in the presence of the leading lady Tabu, director Sriram Raghavan and Sanjay Routray Earlier last year,’Andhadhun’ emerged as a runaway success on the Indian box office winning high critical acclaim and big audience applause with many rating it as the “best film of 2018”. This genre defining, gripping thriller with unpredictable twists and turns and a climax that blew everyone’s mind, ran for more than 75 days in Indian theatres after its release. No surprise that it emerged as the highest-rated Indian film of 2018 on IMDb. ‘Andhadhun’ has been winning top honours at different award shows, including Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Editing and Best Screenplay. At Star Screen Awards, it won Best Director for Raghavan, Best Editing and Best Writing. A toast of Indian film awards and a favourite of Indian filmgoers from 2018, ‘Andhadhun’ has set a new milestone with its massive run in China in 2019 and with the accolades at IFFLA. ‘Andhadhun’ (a blind melody) is a 2018 Indian black comedy crime thriller film co-written and directed by Raghavan. Produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Matchbox Pictures, the film stars Tabu, Khurrana and Radhika Apte and tells the story of a piano player who unwillingly becomes embroiled in the murder of a former film actor. Its script was written by R2aghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja LadhaSurti, YogeshChandekar and Hemanth Rao. The film was edited by Surti and KU Mohanan was its director of photography. Amit Trivedi composed songs for the film while JaideepSahni wrote the lyrics. Raftaar and Girish Nakod composed and wrote a song as a guest composer. Hemanth Rao suggested in 2013 that he watch ‘L’Accordeur’ (The Piano Tuner), a 2010 French short film about a blind pianist. Raghavan liked the film and decided to work on a script based on it. Khurrana was cast in the lead role after he contacted Raghavan and expressed an interest in working with him. The film was shot in 44 days spread over more than a year in Pune; principal photography began in June 2017 and ended on July 17, 2018. ‘Andhadhun’ was released by Viacom18 Motion Pictures theatrically onOctober 5, 2018 to widespread acclaim, with critics highlighting the writing and Khurrana and Tabu’s performances. Produced on a budget of Rs32 crore, the film grossed Rs314.07 crore at the worldwide box office.