Kantara Chapter 1 paid premieres open with dynamic pricing?
A little after noon on October 1, advance bookings for shows starting around 6.30 pm onward on the same day opened across Karnataka, but not the rest of India
Last Updated: 04.01 PM, Oct 01, 2025
A massive 2,500 odd screen premiere opening on October 1 across India – that was the prediction for Kantara Chapter 1. But that seemed like a distant possibility even on the morning of October 1, when there was no sign of bookings opening and a 6.30 am start on October 2 looked more likely. Late on September 30 there was a lot of will they, won’t they, when several movie halls opened bookings and cancelled them shortly after, including in Chennai.
Paid premiere rates high, however...
It was only around 1 pm on October 1 that there was finally word on paid premieres for Kantara Chapter 1 in Karnataka. Ticket prices remained on the higher side, between Rs 400 and Rs 1,100 (recliners), with the average between Rs 600 and Rs 800. This despite the High Court notification to multiplexes to maintain records of every ticket transaction during the interim stay on the ticket price cap brought in by the state government.
What was even more interesting is that some multiplexes had a dynamic ticket pricing in place. This reporter, for instance, purchased a ticket at Rs 480 plus taxes and convenience charges, which moments later went up to Rs 550 + and then down to Rs 530+. These seats that were now suddenly costlier weren’t even the best in the house.
Kantara Chapter 1, written and directed by actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty, is the prequel to his 2022 hit film Kantara – Ondu Dantakathe, which he has set roughly during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty. According to the trailer, which Rishab says does not reveal much of the story, a conflict between a tyrannical king and the indigenous people living in the forests of Kantara is a central plot point.
The film features cinematography by Arvind Kashyap and music by Ajaneesh Loknath. Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah and Jayaram are new additions to the ensemble cast, which also includes Prakash Thuminad, Shaneel Gautham, Pramod Shetty, among others.
FAQs
Q. Where will Kantara Chapter 1 be available after the theatrical run?
A. Amazon Prime Video has acquired the post-theatrical streaming rights of Kantara Chapter 1. The film is expected to be available after 8 weeks.
Q. What is the budget of Kantara Chapter 1?
A. Kantara Chapter 1 has, reportedly, been made at a budget of around Rs 120 cr