Kantara Chapter 1: Why Rishab Shetty led film will have a fairly uninterrupted theatrical run
Kantara Chapter 1: Despite mixed reviews, Kantara Chapter 1 is expected to do well at the box office. But will it get to that elusive Rs 1,000 cr figure that’s evaded all films so far this year?
Rishab in kantara Chapter 1
Last Updated: 09.18 PM, Oct 02, 2025
Kantara Chapter 1, the prequel to the hit 2022 film Kantara released in theatres on October 2 amid little to no competition. Rishab Shetty’s film came along with the Hindi multi-starrer Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Dhanush’s directorial Tamil film Idli Kadai. Sunny Sanskari and Idli Kadai both received mixed reviews, which Kantara Chapter 1 has too, but what Rishab’s film has going for it is the ‘divine’ angle, with a chunk of the audience still in awe of the daivas and the protection they offer in the fight against evil oppressors. Right now, Kantara Chapter 1 is, undoubtedly, the stronger film, despite its flaws.
What the rest of October looks like in theatres
And at least for the next two weeks, it will have an uninterrupted run, with the Deepavali releases, Dhruv Vikram’s Bison, Ayushmann Khurrana’s Thamma, Pradeep Ranganathan’s LIK, Siddu Jonnalagada’s Telusu Kada, etc., expected between October 17 and 21. And if these films fail to ignite the box office, the next stop is October 31, when Ravi Teja’s Mass Jathara. In fact, even in Kannada, the next major releases are only by the end of the month with Darling Krishna’s Brat and Duniya Vijay’s Maarutha.
Expected to be the biggest blockbuster of the year, despite mixed reviews, Kantara Chapter 1 will need to make the most of this extended window, as its OTT outing is slated for only 4 weeks later. The film’s streaming rights had been picked by Amazon Prime Video early on when shooting had just begun. According to reports, the Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam versions of the film will be available on Amazon Prime Video on October 30, 2025. There is currently no update on the Hindi version, though.
The film, meanwhile, is a story set in an early time, during the Kadamba dynasty reign and follows the conflict between the indigenous people residing in Kantara and the King, who wants control of the guardian spirits living and protecting the forest and its people. Besides Rishab, the cast also includes Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah, Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojary, Naveen Padil, Prakash Thuminad, among others.
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.