Kantara Chapter 1 run time revealed: Rishab Shetty’s packing in a lot of story telling
Ahead of its October 2 release, bookings for the premiere shows of Kantara Chapter 1 on October 1 opened for the US market, which brought to light the film’s length and plot summary
Last Updated: 03.29 PM, Sep 13, 2025
As the countdown to the release of Kantara Chapter 1 begins, details about the film that actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty had hitherto kept tightly guarded are emerging. Earlier on September 13, news broke that advance bookings for the US paid premieres of Kantara Chapter 1 had opened, with multiple shows spread across October 1, starting at 10 am. What also emerged along with the booking opportunity is the run-time of the film and a plot synopsis as well.
Kantara Chapter 1 clocks in at a tad under...
According to ticket booking sites in the US, Rishab’s much-awaited Kantara prequel is longer than the 2022 original film. While Kantara was 2 hours 28 minutes only, this time around, it is said that Kantara Chapter 1 is a whopping 175 minutes in run time, which is 2 hours and 55 minutes. One report mentions the run time as 2 hours 45 minutes, but the fact remains that it is closer to 3 hours in length.
The synopsis of the film reveals that it is set in 300 CE, during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty and takes audiences into the mystical forests of Banavasi, where divine spirits awaken and the roots of the Daiva tradition are forged. Rishab Shetty transforms into a fierce Naga Sadhu, a warrior mystic, destined to become the bridge between mortals and the divine.
Kantara Chapter 1 will explore the origin of a myth, it adds. In fact, after the first look teaser of the film, actor-filmmaker Rakshit Shetty had exclaimed that the earrings Rishab wore resembled the horns of the Panjurli Daiva. Is Kantara Chapter 1 a divine origin story? Well, all will be revealed when the film releases in theatres, which, according to the buzz in industry circles will be with a massive paid premiere opening on October 1 in India.
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. 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.
Q. Which OTT will Kantara Chapter 1 be on after theatrical release?
A. Amazon Prime Video acquired the digital streaming rights of Kantara Chapter 1 even before the completion of filming. The streamer is said to have paid a whopping Rs 125 cr for the rights.