The saga of Kantara is about to deepen. Rishab Shetty’s much-anticipated prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, is gearing up for a worldwide release on October 2 under the banner of Vijay Kiragandur's Hombale Films. The trade buzz is already electric, carrying the weight of the 2022 blockbuster’s legacy.
In a rare move, the Telugu rights for the film have been divided among seven heavyweight distributors—an unusual arrangement that underscores the film’s soaring demand in the region. Mythri Movie Makers have stepped in for the Nizam territory, while Vigneshwara Entertainments controls Uttarandhra. Geetha Arts, which distributed the original, continues its association with East and West Godavari. Varahi Chalana Chitram takes charge of Guntur, Shilpakala Entertainments secures Ceded, while SV Cinemas and KSN Telefilms cover Nellore and Krishna districts. For the Telugu trade, this spread is nothing short of unprecedented—a clear marker of how hot the film is running in the market.
From North America to the Middle East, the UK to Australia, Kantara: Chapter 1 secures a formidable overseas distribution network
Meanwhile, Prithviraj Productions, headed by actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran and Supriya Menon, will release the film in Kerala, further strengthening their partnership with Hombale. For the Hindi-speaking belt and Nepal, AA Films has taken charge, leveraging the same network that successfully carried Kantara and the KGF franchise into the heartland. Overseas, Phars Film will distribute in the Middle East, Prathyangira Cinemas has North America locked, and Dream Screens International is handling Australia and New Zealand. The UK release is being steered by LWE and DreamZ Entertainment, with additional territories expected to be announced soon. Together, these alignments mark one of the most expansive international rollouts ever staged for a Kannada-origin feature.
On-screen, Kantara: Chapter 1 promises a deeper exploration into folklore, faith, and ancestral conflict. Rishab Shetty not only directs but also reprises his place at the center of the mythic universe, joined by Rukmini Vasanth as Kanakavathi and Gulshan Devaiah as the antagonist Kulasekhara. Music composed by B Ajaneesh Loknath, has cinematography by Arvind Kashyap, and producer Vijay Kiragandur are once again key creative pillars, ensuring the prequel matches its predecessor in scope while raising the stakes in spectacle.
