Kantara Chapter 1 on OTT: Will the narrative around Rishab Shetty’s blockbuster film have a drastic shift?

Kantara Chapter 1 on OTT: Three years ago, after Kantara hit OTT, the overwhelming response was that Rishab Shetty’s film was highly overrated. Will the prequel follow suit?

Rishab Shetty in Kantara Chapter 1

Kantara Chapter 1, the prequel to the hit 2022 film Kantara, is now on OTT, albeit in the four south language versions only. The deal with Amazon Prime Video was for the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam versions to be on the streamer at the 4-week mark, with Hindi to follow later, after 8 weeks, as is the standard practice. Since the film dropped on Prime Video and audiences in the Hindi belt realized they have a longer wait, there’ve been comments galore about advancing the Hindi version release, although that is unlikely to happen.

Kantara Chapter 1 on OTT: Bouquets or brickbats expected?

What will be interesting, though, is the response to Kantara Chapter 1 once audiences who were waiting to catch it on OTT watch it. In 2022, after the original Kantara hit OTT, split between Prime Video and Netflix, the overwhelming consensus was that the film that had been adjudged ‘divine blockbuster’ at the box office and got filmmaker-actor Rishab Shetty the Divine Star tag was highly overrated. Cut to now, when Kantara Chapter 1, a bigger, but not necessarily better version of the original film is on OTT, after opening to mixed reviews, what will these same audiences make of it?

Also read: Kantara Chapter 1 movie review: Rishab Shetty goes all out in grand but bland sequel

Armed with a much bigger budget than he had for Kantara, Rishab’s film is mounted on a grand scale and the quality of the visuals and VFX sequences has received immense praise. In terms of story, though, there’s not been much of a leap, with the basic plot remaining the same. While a descendant of an ancient king wanted the forest land in Kantara, this time, it is the king who makes a move on the land protected by divine forces. Yet again, it is divine intervention that keeps the people of Kantara safe, which also means that it is the last 20-30 minutes, during which Rishab is possessed by a daiva that is the highlight of the film.

Also read: After months of love, Kantara now trends for being the ‘overrated’ film of 2022

The film also stars Gulshan Devaiah, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, Prakash Thuminad, Pramod Shetty, Naveen D Padil, late Rakesh Poojary, Hariprashanth, Deepak Rai Panaje, Mime Ramadas, among others. Despite mixed reviews, the film has managed to become the highest grossing Indian film of 2025, outgrossing Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava. It is, however, unlikely to break into the Rs 1,000 cr club.

*Catch Kantara Chapter 1 and other exciting titles with Amazon Prime Video lite on OTTplay Premium with a top-up subscription.

FAQs

Q. Are Kantara and Kantara: Chapter 1 the same?

A. No, they are separate films in the same franchise, both written and directed by Rishab Shetty. Kantara released in 2022, while Kantara: Chapter 1 hit theatres on October 2, 2025. Chapter 1 is the prequel of the original film and explores the origins of daivaradhane in the Tulunadu region.

Q. What is the run-time of Kantara Chapter 1?

A. Kantara Chapter is 2 hours and 47 minutes in total run-time.

Q. Where can one watch Kantara Chapter 1?

A. Kantara Chapter 1 hit theatres across the world on October 2, 2025. It is on Amazon Prime Video as of October 31, 2025, in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. The Hindi version is expected after 8 weeks, around November 27. An official announcement is expected soon.

Q. Whose avatar is Panjurli Daiva?

A. Panjurli Daiva is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha incarnation. Panjurli, according to folklore, was a wild boar, who was slain by Lord Shiva and then revived to become a divine protector.

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