Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 Rakes in Rs 60 Crore on Opening Day

Kantara Chapter 1 Box Office Day 1: Rishab Shetty’s Prequel Earns Rs 60 Crore.

Rishab Shetty’s highly anticipated prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, hit theatres on October 2 and minted Rs 60 crore on its opening day, according to Sacnilk. Of this, around Rs 21 crore came from the Hindi-dubbed version. The 2D occupancy was impressive across languages: Kannada (88.13%), Telugu (75.34%), Tamil (71.42%), Malayalam (66.61%), and Hindi (29.84%).

About the Film
Directed by and starring Shetty, the prequel explores the ancient roots of the Kantara forest and delves deep into Indian folklore. The film also features Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram, and Rakesh Poojari, and is produced by Hombale Films.

Critical Take
Kantara: Chapter 1 begins with a slow first half focused on world-building, which may feel drawn-out to some viewers. The second half, however, delivers gripping action, faster pacing, and a shocking twist. Shetty’s performance in intense sequences stands out, though his calmer scenes are less impactful, and co-star Rukmini Vasanth shows limited range.

The film’s music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath and visuals by cinematographer Arvind S Kashyap are major highlights. The background score blends classical elements seamlessly, while VFX and attention to detail—particularly in capturing animal emotions—enhance the immersive experience.

Following the massive success of the original Kantara, which earned over Rs 400 crore worldwide, expectations were high for the prequel, and Kantara: Chapter 1 has delivered a strong start, combining folklore, stunning visuals, and a compelling soundtrack to win audiences.