Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 has taken the box office by storm, earning widespread praise for its performances, storytelling, and direction. The film, which hit theatres on October 2, continues its remarkable theatrical run even after 26 days of release.
Now, in an exciting update, the blockbuster is gearing up for its OTT release, which is set to arrive less than a month after its theatrical debut.
In a recent conversation with India Today, Hombale Films producer Chaluve Gowda shed light on the decision, revealing that the early OTT release was the result of a pre existing agreement made years ago.
“Only the South language (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam) versions of the film will release on OTT right now, not the Hindi version. The Hindi version will come after eight weeks. The agreement for this release window was actually done three years ago, so it’s more of an obligation on our part. Back then, the standard practice was different,” said Gowda.
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He further explained how release strategies have evolved over time, “Most South films now follow a four-week window — some run longer, while others wrap up within three to four weeks. Every film has its own agreement and timeline. Before COVID, it used to be eight weeks for all films. Post-COVID, even big releases like Coolie are coming on OTT after four weeks across all languages, including Hindi. So, it’s always decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on what works at that point in time.”
Despite the early OTT drop, Gowda expressed confidence that box office numbers will remain strong, predicting only a 10-15% dip after the streaming debut.
Also Read: Kantara Chapter 1 OTT release: When And Where To Watch Rishab Shetty’s 800 Crore Blockbuster Online
About Kantara Chapter 1
Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, produced by Hombale Films, it serves as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara. Starring Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram alongside Shetty, the film has emerged as the highest grossing Indian film of 2025, collecting Rs 813 crore worldwide in just 25 days surpassing Chhaava’s Rs 807 crore.
Rishab plays Berme, with Rukmini Vasanth as Kanakavathi and Gulshan Devaiah as Kulashekara. The film’s visuals are handled by cinematographer Arvind S. Kashyap, while B. Ajaneesh Loknath provides the music, following the success of his work in the first film.
Interestingly, Kantara Chapter 1 will also have its English theatrical release globally on the same day as its digital debut, October 31.
