After setting several benchmarks for Kannada cinema, Kantara Chapter 1 has finally started slowing down at the Indian box office. The film, led by Rishab Shetty, had maintained a remarkable streak of earning above ₹1 crore daily for over a month, a feat rarely achieved by any regional film. However, the early OTT release has impacted its theatrical momentum, preventing it from reaching one historic record in the Kannada language.
Rishab Shetty’s Blockbuster Sees First Major Drop After 35 Days
Starring Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah, the film witnessed its first significant dip on day 36, earning around ₹65 lakh—a fall of about 48% compared to day 35’s ₹1.25 crore, which benefited from the Guru Nanak Jayanti holiday.
Despite the drop, the movie’s overall performance remains extraordinary. According to early estimates, Kantara Chapter 1 has accumulated ₹615 crore net in India and around ₹725.7 crore gross, including GST. This puts the film among the top-grossing Indian releases of the year, reaffirming Rishab Shetty’s dominance at the box office.
Indian Box Office Collection Breakdown (36 Days)
| Week | Net Collection |
|---|---|
| Week 1 (8 days) | ₹337.4 Cr |
| Week 2 | ₹147.85 Cr |
| Week 3 | ₹78.85 Cr |
| Week 4 | ₹37.6 Cr |
| Week 5 | ₹13.3 Cr |
| Total (36 Days) | ₹615 Cr |
The film’s early box office run was nothing short of historic, with the first 15 days showing unprecedented growth across South India. However, as soon as it made its OTT debut, theatrical footfalls began to decline sharply.
Missed Opportunity: The First-Ever ₹200 Crore Kannada Film
In the Kannada language, Kantara Chapter 1 has already become a legend. It surpassed previous records to become the highest-grossing Kannada film of all time, overtaking KGF Chapter 2 in terms of ROI (Return on Investment).
Until last week, the film had amassed ₹197.41 crore net from its Kannada version alone — just a few crores short of the much-anticipated ₹200 crore milestone. However, the OTT release on October 31 slowed down the theatrical momentum considerably, making it nearly impossible to touch that mark now.
Had the film stayed exclusive to theatres for another week or two, Kantara Chapter 1 could have made Kannada cinema history by becoming the first-ever Kannada-language movie to cross ₹200 crore net domestically.
OTT Arrival Impact and Future Outlook
The film’s arrival on streaming platforms boosted its reach worldwide but took away a major chunk of its potential theatrical earnings. The audience who waited to experience it online contributed to the slowdown.
Now, as Kantara Chapter 1 enters its sixth week, trade experts predict that the film’s collections will gradually taper off. Despite that, it remains one of the most successful Kannada films ever, both critically and commercially.
