Titans clashed on the screen on Wednesday, on the eve of Republic Day, as Shah Rukh Khan's Raees and Hrithik Roshan's Kaabil released globally.

In Ranchi and Jamshedpur, fans were blown away by SRK's kohl-lined eyes that smouldered while essaying the complex role of an unscrupulous bootlegger and Hrithik emoting the anguish and resolve of a sightless man, again through his eyes.

Though the R-Day crowd will decide the box office destiny of both, two Jharkhand cities have given their verdict. Sanjay Gupta-directed Kaabil is "sensitive" while Rahul Dholakia-helmed Raees is "gripping".

In Ranchi, Kaabil and Raees released at multiplex Fun Cinema at Spring City Mall; Carnival Cinema at Main Road; SRS Cinema at Dangratoli; and Eylex at Hinoo. Single plex Plaza screened only Raees. In Jamshedpur, Kaabil and Raees were screened at the lone multiplex Eylex Fun n Films at Tamolia, NH-33. Payal Cinema in Mango will screen both from Thursday.

Ranchi businessman Prasur Verma (42), who watched Raees, called it a "paisa vasool SRK movie". "Shah Rukh as the criminal and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the cop have a great cat-and-mouse chemistry," said the cine-goer.

Agreed Jamshedpur Women's College girl Antara Chatterjee. "Shah Rukh in Raees reminded us of his Darr days."

Ranchi's Amit Minz (28), a telecom executive, chose to watch Kaabil. "It's a sensitive love story between Hrithik and Yami (Gautam)," he said.

Second-year English honours student of St Xavier's College Urvashi Sinha, said Hrithik put in an award-winning performance. "I've read it's inspired by a Hollywood movie ( Blind Fury, 1989), but for me Kaabil is a masterpiece," she said.

Additional reporting by Antara Bose