Rishab Shetty's "Kantara: Chapter 1" has made a strong debut at the box office, sparking comparisons to other major Indian films. The prequel to the 2022 blockbuster "Kantara" has generated significant buzz and high expectations.
Opening Day Performance "Kantara: Chapter 1" has recorded an impressive opening day, earning an estimated ₹61.50 crore net in India across all languages, including paid previews. Globally, the film has grossed ₹90 crore on its opening day. This strong start positions it as the second-best debut for a Kannada film in India, only behind Yash's "KGF: Chapter 2," which earned ₹116 crore net on its opening day.
Language-Wise Collection The film's performance is particularly strong in its home market of Karnataka, with significant contributions from the Hindi belt. The Kannada version earned approximately ₹20 crore, while the Hindi version brought in ₹18.50 crore. The Telugu version has also performed well in Nizam/Andhra.
In the Hindi market, "Kantara Chapter 1" collected ₹17.75-18 crore net, with the Mumbai circuit performing exceptionally well. This is the second-best opening day number in Mumbai for the year, following "Chhaava" and surpassing "War 2", "Sikandar" and "Saiyaara".
Comparisons with Other Films
The film's opening day collection has been compared to that of Rajinikanth's "Coolie". While initial reports suggested "Kantara: Chapter 1" might surpass "Coolie," it ultimately fell slightly short. "Coolie" grossed ₹65 crore in India on its opening day.
"Kantara: Chapter 1" vs. "War 2": Despite expectations, "War 2" did not perform as well as anticipated, earning ₹52.50 crore net in India on its opening day. "Coolie" outperformed "War 2" in the Hindi belt and in Telugu states.
"Kantara: Chapter 1" in the list of South Indian films: "Kantara Chapter 1" has secured the 8th spot among the top 10 biggest South Indian openers at the Hindi box office. The list is topped by "Pushpa 2: The Rule" (₹70.30 Cr), followed by "KGF: Chapter 2" (₹53.95 Cr) and "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" (₹41.00 Cr).
Expectations and Future Performance
Despite not being a typical mass-heavy commercial entertainer like "KGF" or "Pushpa," "Kantara Chapter 1" has drawn significant audiences due to its unique storytelling, cultural roots, and mysticism. Experts predict that the film should continue to perform well, with a potential comeback over the weekend. The target is to cross the ₹20 crore net mark on Sunday.
