Kantara: Chapter 1, director and star Rishab Shetty’s ambitious prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, has crossed the monumental ₹600 crore milestone at the Indian box office after nearly a month in theaters. The film has now amassed over ₹800 crore globally, establishing itself as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025—a remarkable achievement that underscores the universal appeal of Shetty’s epic storytelling and visual mastery. Released on October 2, 2025, Kantara: Chapter 1 has shattered multiple records, becoming the highest-grossing Kannada-language film of all time, surpassing the previous record holder KGF Chapter 2 by a significant margin. The film’s unprecedented success demonstrates the appetite for large-scale Indian cinema with cultural depth and artistic ambition.
Box Office Triumph: Kantara Chapter 1 Crosses ₹600 Crore After One Month
Release Date: October 2, 2025 | Box Office Milestone: ₹600 crore net (India), ₹800+ crore (Worldwide) | Chart Position: Highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 | Historic Achievement: Highest-grossing Kannada film of all time | Days in Theaters: 33+ days (5+ weeks)
Kantara: Chapter 1 has achieved extraordinary commercial success by crossing ₹600 crore net at the Indian box office, with worldwide collections exceeding ₹800 crore. The film achieved this monumental milestone in just over a month of theatrical release, demonstrating unprecedented audience appetite for ambitious Indian cinema. The film earned approximately ₹607.15 crore net across all languages in India by day 31, then advanced to ₹604.25 crore net specifically by day 33, with the worldwide total crossing ₹799 crore and nearing ₹800 crore.
The opening was explosive: ₹61.85 crore on day one (Thursday), followed by sustained collections through the first week. The film earned ₹326 crore in just 8 days, then crossed ₹400 crore by day 12 and surpassed ₹500 crore by the third week. In the Kannada version alone, the film has amassed ₹195.35 crore net, becoming the highest-grossing Kannada-language film of all time, surpassing the previous record holder KGF Chapter 2 by a significant margin.
Director, Writer, and Producer
Director and Writer: Rishab Shetty | Previous Film: Kantara (2022) | Producer: Hombale Films (Chaluve Gowda) | Budget Scale: Considerably larger than the original Kantara
Rishab Shetty returns as director, writer, and lead actor for this ambitious prequel. Shetty’s creative vision expands significantly in Kantara: Chapter 1, utilizing a considerably larger budget to realize an epic-scale mythology that predates the events of the original Kantara. Set centuries before the first film, the prequel ventures into entirely original territory rather than simply retrofitting existing elements.
Shetty’s previous directorial success with Kantara (2022) established him as a visionary filmmaker capable of blending folk culture, mythology, action, and intimate character work. He operates the film as an “elaborate setup for a visually splendid payoff,” testing viewer patience before delivering extraordinary climactic sequences. His commitment to scale and spectacle in Chapter 1 represents a quantum leap from the original, with production design, cinematography, and action sequences all magnified considerably.
Cast and Performances
Rishab Shetty as Berme — The actor-director plays Berme, a warrior protector of the Kantara forest and its tribal communities. Shetty’s performance is described as achieving “remarkable restraint” and excellence, with the director deliberately crafting roles around Shetty’s strengths. The Hindustan Times notes that “Rishab almost excels in pulling off a worthy prequel,” while critics unanimously praise how Shetty elevates the material through understated, naturalistic performance work.
Rukmini Vasanth as Princess Kanakvathi — The actress plays the princess who attempts to find diplomatic middle ground amid conflict. Vasanth delivers strong supporting work that complements Shetty’s lead performance, with particular strength in scenes balancing political pragmatism against personal emotion.
Jayaram as Vijayendra — The veteran actor portrays the ruler of the Kadamba kingdom, the neighboring power that has enforced an uneasy truce with Kantara. Jayaram brings gravitas and complexity to the role, establishing himself as both negotiator and potential threat.
Gulshan Devaiah as Kulasekhara — The ambitious, wayward son of the king, Kulasekhara becomes the primary antagonist driven by greed and desire to expand his father’s kingdom at Kantara’s expense. Devaiah brings charismatic menace to the role, making Kulasekhara a formidable villain.
Supporting Cast: Rakesh Poojary, Prakash Thuminad, and additional ensemble members contribute depth and authenticity to the film’s rich cultural backdrop.
Plot Summary
Kantara: Chapter 1 is set during the Kadamba dynasty, centuries before the events of the original film. The story unfolds in the dense forests of Banavasi, where the tribal community of Kantara lives harmoniously, protected by their daivas (divine spirits) Panjurli and Guliga. The indigenous inhabitants maintain intricate spiritual connections with the forest roots, worshipping nature and viewing their surroundings as armor against external threats.
When the Kadamba kingdom’s ambitious prince Kulasekhara plots to annex Kantara’s forests and resources, conflict erupts. Berme (Shetty), a warrior protector of Kantara’s sacred traditions, finds himself in direct confrontation with Kulasekhara. As blood spills and ancient rituals clash with imperial ambition, the origin of the Daiva worship and sacred traditions depicted in the original Kantara gradually unfolds. The film explores themes of power, deceit, oppression, survival, resistance, and resurrection—mirroring the first film’s thematic concerns but operating on a vastly larger canvas.
Runtime: Approximately 2 hours 55 minutes (nearly three hours), reflecting the epic scope and ambition of the storytelling.
Critical Reception
Hindustan Times (3 stars): “Rishab Shetty almost excels in pulling off a worthy prequel aided by fine performances and visuals, but hurt by an uneven narrative.” The review acknowledges the film’s “visually splendid payoff” and notes that despite occasional unevenness, Kantara: Chapter 1 remains a “watchable film” presenting “a theatrical spectacle that can only be experienced, not explained.”
Indian Express: Praises Shetty’s ambitious scope while noting that the prequel loses some of the “soul” that characterized the original. The review highlights that while the original Kantara wove numerous small elements together to create meaning, Chapter 1 emphasizes spectacle and visual grandeur over intimate storytelling. However, critics acknowledge Shetty’s craftsmanship in creating “a visual world beyond expectations.”
NDTV (3 stars): Describes the film as “audaciously conceived and mounted” with “high points strong enough to make amends for sections that appear laboured and overstretched.” Cinematographer Arvind S Kashyap is credited with enhancing the visual spectacle, while music composer Ajaneesh Loknath delivers a “background score that hits high notes throughout.”
General Critical Consensus: Critics universally acknowledge the technical excellence (cinematography, production design, sound design, editing) while debating whether the expanded scale enhances or diminishes the intimate cultural resonance that defined the original. Most agree the film is visually spectacular but potentially overstretched in narrative execution.
Production and Technical Excellence
Cinematography: Arvind S Kashyap (described as going “all out” to enhance visual spectacle) | Music and Background Score: Ajaneesh Loknath (noted for hitting “high notes all through”) | Production Design and Costumes: Large-scale, period-accurate craftsmanship establishing the Kadamba dynasty | Art Direction: Meticulous attention to Tulunadu cultural and architectural authenticity
Where to Watch: Theatrical and Streaming
Theatrical Status (As of November 4, 2025): Kantara: Chapter 1 continues theatrical run in select locations. The film experienced a significant 70% collection drop in South India after its early digital release, though it maintains modest presence in Hindi-speaking regions with approximately 60% weekly drops.
Streaming Release (OTT): Kantara: Chapter 1 is now available on Amazon Prime Video as of October 31, 2025. The film streams in its original Kannada version as well as dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. These four South Indian language versions are currently available for all Prime Video subscribers.
Hindi Version Streaming: The Hindi-dubbed version is not yet available on Prime Video. According to Hombale Films producer Chaluve Gowda, the Hindi version will arrive on Prime Video only after the film completes its eight-week theatrical run—an obligation stemming from a release window agreement negotiated three years prior. This strategic delay protects theatrical collections in Hindi-speaking regions, a market segment that continues to sustain the film’s box office performance.
Subscription Information: Kantara: Chapter 1 is included with all active Amazon Prime Video subscriptions. No additional rental or purchase fee is required for Prime members. The film is available across all supported languages on all devices—phones, tablets, computers, and connected TVs.
Final Verdict
Kantara: Chapter 1 represents an ambitious, large-scale prequel that achieves extraordinary commercial success while generating genuine artistic debate among critics. The film’s ₹600+ crore collection and status as 2025’s highest-grossing Indian film validates Rishab Shetty’s creative vision and audiences’ hunger for cultural epics crafted with technical excellence. While some critics argue the expanded scale sacrifices the original’s intimate soul, others celebrate the “theatrical spectacle” Shetty has created. The film’s availability on Amazon Prime Video ensures it will reach global audiences, introducing international viewers to the mythology and cultural traditions of coastal Karnataka and the Daiva worship traditions that define Kantara’s world.
