Kantara Chapter 1: Jayaram says he couldn’t have asked for a better sign of encouragement
Kantara Chapter 1: Malayalam actor Jayaram plays King Rajashekara in the film, a performance that has received mixed response
Last Updated: 04.31 PM, Oct 02, 2025
Malayalam actor Jayaram’s second Kannada film after 2023’s Ghost is Kantara Chapter 1, the Rishab Shetty led prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, Kantara. Jayaram plays King Rajashekara of Bangra, whose interest and intentions with Kantara remain unclear until the very end. Unlike Ghost, Jayaram did not have to worry about his Kannada diction, as the team got someone to dub for him, so all that he needed to focus on was the dual shades of his character and creating maximum impact.
Jayaram: Thankful to audiences and Rishab Shetty
The actor, who was not a part of any of the promotional activities, took to social media following the largely rousing reception the film got on Day 1 to thank audiences, but most importantly, to express gratitude to Rishab for trusting him. He also extended love to the team that made all the cast look good onscreen.
Netizens were largely happy with the actor’s role in the film, with comments ranging from “Jayaram and Rukmini were good casting choices”, “Veteran actor Jayaram shines as the aging king. His performance brings a commendable nuance to the character, showing the burden of an uneasy truce with the forest. Always a treat to watch him bring such gravitas to a regal role”, “Jayaram leaves a huge mark”, among others. Some, though, felt that the actor was miscast in the film.
Kantara Chapter 1, meanwhile, has opened to mixed reviews across the globe. While a large section is still immensely mesmerized by the daiva possession elements that Rishab first introduced in Kantara, others weren’t. The film is, however, expected to do well at the box office and has, according to trade trackers, had a good start with a little under Rs 30 crore India net.
Conservative estimates suggest that Kantara was made at a budget of Rs 120 cr, while there are rumours that it could be a lot more. The film also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Prakash Thuminad, Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojary, Naveen Padil, Deepak Rai Panaje, Mime Ramdas, among others. Music is by Ajaneesh B Loknath, and cinematography by Arvind Kashyap.
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 is expected to hit theatres on October 2, 2025. Chapter 1 is the prequel of the original film and is supposedly an exploration of the origin of the Panjurli Daiva, among others.
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 will be in theatres across the world from October 2, 2025. Subsequently, it will head to Amazon Prime Video on October 30, 2025, in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
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.