The highly anticipated prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara, titled Kantara Chapter 1, is set for a major Dussehra release on October 2nd. The film, which is both written and directed by its star, Rishab Shetty, is one of the biggest pan-India festive releases of the year.
Early advance booking figures indicate a very strong opening, suggesting the film will easily outpace recent major Bollywood releases, though its performance suggests its pan-India potential may be slightly lower than initial high-profile expectations.
Advance Booking and Opening Day Projections
Kantara Chapter 1 is a prequel that delves into the origins of the mysteries seen in the first Kantara, which was a surprise blockbuster earning over ₹400 crore at the global box office despite a staggered release.
By 11 AM on the eve of its release, the upcoming film’s advance booking gross for the opening day across all languages has surpassed ₹12 crore.
- The figures are heavily led by the Kannada version, which accounts for ₹7.50 crore alone.
- The Hindi version is seeing a steady rise, recording a respectable ₹2 crore gross in advance bookings so far.
Trade pundits predict a solid all-India net opening for Kantara Chapter 1 in the range of ₹30+ crore, with more optimistic estimates reaching ₹40 crore.
Box Office Comparisons and Pan-India Aspirations
The original Kantara was a genuine pan-India phenomenon due to its sustained run, earning substantial net collections in its dubbed versions (₹84 crore in Hindi, ₹63 crore combined in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam). The prequel is releasing simultaneously in all five languages, which is expected to ensure a larger opening collection.
However, the initial expectations for the Hindi market have been adjusted downwards. While trade pundits a week ago hoped for a ₹25 crore Hindi opening, current estimates place the Hindi version’s contribution to the opening day at ₹15-17 crore net.
Despite this lowered expectation, an opening between ₹35-40 crore would still mean Kantara Chapter 1 is poised to:
- Outdo every Bollywood release of the year, surpassing films like Saiyaara (₹22 crore), Sikandar (₹26 crore), and Chhaava (₹31 crore).
- Lag behind the biggest pan-India releases of the year, such as Pawan Kalyan’s OG (₹84 crore) and Rajinikanth’s Coolie (₹65 crore).
Kantara Chapter 1 is set centuries before the original film and also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah. It is slated to release across India on October 2nd.