Rishab Shetty, the actor-director of "Kantara: Chapter 1," attributes the film's monumental success to the deep cultural roots and universal themes it explores. Speaking at a recent event celebrating the film's achievement, Shetty emphasized the importance of regional storytelling in achieving global recognition. "From the last part to this one, we've visually expanded the film. I've said before that the more regional we go, the more global we'll become, and that's exactly what happened," he stated.
Released on October 2, 2025, "Kantara: Chapter 1" is a prequel that delves into the spiritual lore introduced in the original 2022 film. Set in pre-colonial Karnataka during the reign of the Kadambas from Banavasi, the film portrays the conflict between the tribals of the Kantara forest and a tyrannical king. The movie has garnered praise for its narrative, performances, and exploration of folklore and divine traditions of coastal Karnataka.
The film's financial success has been remarkable. Within its opening week in India, "Kantara: Chapter 1" crossed ₹300 crore. Worldwide, the film has surpassed ₹414 crore, exceeding the lifetime business of both "Kantara" (2022) and "KGF Chapter 1". This makes "Kantara: Chapter 1" the second-highest-grossing Kannada film ever, only behind "KGF: Chapter 2". As of October 8, 2025, the film had grossed ₹312.23 crore net in India.
Shetty, who wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film, expressed his gratitude for the audience's overwhelming response. "This film and character were my dream, which my team made theirs, and now it's become the public's dream. My energy has been transferred to the public," he said. He also acknowledged the immense effort the film demanded and praised his team for their unwavering support. "We also don't know how we achieved this. It scared us to think about the effort that would go into making the film. As a team, we have managed to achieve this from the production boys that got us tea to the production house everyone has contributed to this film," Shetty stated.
According to Rishab Shetty, the dynamic between nature and humans is a core theme. The story is rooted in the folklore of coastal Karnataka, focusing on the tribes, folklore, and deity worship prevalent in the region. The success of "Kantara: Chapter 1" reinforces Shetty's belief that regional stories can resonate universally, transcending language barriers.
The film's success is a testament to the power of rooted storytelling and the ability of regional cinema to captivate a global audience. "Kantara: Chapter 1" has not only set a new standard in Indian cinema but has also paved the way for more regional stories to find their place on the world map.
Rishab Shetty chose not to take a fixed salary for "Kantara: Chapter 1". Instead, his earnings are based on the film's box office performance. He also reportedly invested his own money into the project, which had a budget of ₹125 crore.
"Kantara: Chapter 1" features a cast including Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah. The film is set a thousand years before the events of the first film and depicts the conflict between the residents of Kantara and a neighboring kingdom seeking to annex their lands and resources.
