Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 has taken the box office by storm. Following its powerful Dussehra opening, the film continues to impress audiences across languages. As it entered the weekdays from Monday (October 6), the film witnessed a slight drop in daily numbers but retained its dominance nationwide.

First Monday numbers out

According to the latest data from Sacnilk, Kantara Chapter 1 earned Rs 30.50 crore on its first Monday. With this, the film’s total collection in India has reached Rs 255.75 crore in just five days.

On Monday, October 6, the film recorded an impressive overall occupancy:

  • Kannada: 72.70 percent
  • Telugu: 36.52 percent
  • Hindi: 17.67 percent
  • Tamil: 43.13 percent
  • Malayalam: 40.01 percent

These figures highlight the film’s pan-India appeal, with strong performances in the southern markets driving its total earnings.

Breaking Kannada box office records

Kantara Chapter 1 made a sensational start by collecting Rs 61.85 crore on day one. The film sustained remarkable momentum throughout its opening weekend, setting new records in the Kannada film industry.

In just a few days, it has surpassed the lifetime collections of several major films, including Su From So (Rs 92 crore), Sitaare Zameen Par (Rs 167 crore), Lokah Chapter 1 (Rs 153 crore), and even the domestic total of KGF Chapter 1 (Rs 185 crore).

With these numbers, Kantara Chapter 1 has officially become the highest-grossing Kannada film of the year, cementing Rishab Shetty’s position as one of the most bankable filmmakers in Indian cinema.

A prequel to the original Kantara

Serving as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, this chapter is set nearly a thousand years before the events of the original. The film narrates a fierce conflict between the jungle village of Kantara and the neighbouring Kadamba kingdom.

Berme (played by Rishab Shetty), a valiant warrior, stands up to Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah), a ruthless ruler seeking to dominate and exploit their sacred land. The movie concludes with a subtle hint at Kantara Chapter 2, leaving fans eager for the next instalment.

Star-studded performances and acclaim

The film features Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah in pivotal roles. Actor Jayaram revealed in an interview with Asianet News that Malayalam superstar Mammootty personally sent him a congratulatory message after watching the film.

“I’m extremely happy. Just a minute ago, I saw a message from Mammukka (Mammootty) congratulating me. He said I was excellent in Kantara. This is a benchmark film, just like KGF. It’s a matter of great pride and happiness for a Malayalee to be part of a 1000-crore movie,” Jayaram said.

From modest beginnings to monumental success

The original Kantara (2022) was a surprise hit, grossing over Rs 400 crore worldwide on a modest Rs 15 crore budget. The new chapter builds on that legacy, expanding its mythical universe and reaffirming Rishab Shetty’s unique storytelling vision.

With strong word-of-mouth and sustained occupancy, Kantara Chapter 1 is poised to cross several new milestones in the coming weeks.