A Record-Smashing Opening
Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited prequel, Kantara Chapter 1, has delivered one of the biggest opening days of the year. According to industry estimates, the film raked in ₹60 crore net on its release day in India, surpassing the first-day business of blockbuster titles such as Chhaava which collected ₹31 crore and Saiyaara which opened with ₹22 crore. With this momentum, the film is now eyeing Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which scored ₹65 crore on day one.
Phenomenal Audience Response
The Kannada release of Kantara Chapter 1 drove the lion’s share of its opening day success. Karnataka reported near-houseful occupancy with an overall average of 88 percent across shows. Cities like Mysuru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, and Kundapura touched occupancy levels close to 100 percent, signaling the massive craze around the film. Bengaluru led with more than 1,000 shows and recorded over 90 percent occupancy.
The Hindi version of the film opened with a modest 29 percent occupancy but picked up momentum through the evening and night shows. Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad led the Hindi markets with maximum screenings, while Bengaluru and Hyderabad recorded the highest occupancy among Hindi belt audiences.
A Pan-India Celebration
The film was released in Kannada along with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, ensuring a wide national reach. Produced under Hombale Films by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda, the movie not only appeals to Shetty’s loyal Kannada fan base but is also attracting audiences across India thanks to its unique blend of folklore, action, and spirituality.
Star Power And Competition
Besides Shetty, the film features Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah in pivotal roles. Despite clashing with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, Kantara Chapter 1 has clearly dominated at the box office, leveraging the Dussehra holiday and the immense fan anticipation that had built up since the success of the original film in 2022.
What Lies Ahead
With its thunderous start, Kantara Chapter 1 is expected to sustain its momentum through the weekend. Industry experts believe it could challenge the lifetime earnings of some of the year’s biggest releases. The worldwide collection numbers are awaited, but if the domestic opening is anything to go by, Kantara Chapter 1 is on track to become a landmark in Indian cinema.
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