Unveiling Kantara: Exploring the Epic Beginning of Chapter 1

Kantara: Chapter 1, the highly anticipated prequel to Rishab Shetty’s 2022 blockbuster Kantara, is officially slated for release on October 2, 2025, as confirmed by the filmmakers at Hombale Films, dismissing all delay rumors. Directed and headlined once again by Rishab Shetty, the film takes a bold mythological turn, exploring the spiritual and ancestral origins of the lore introduced in the original film, set around 300 CE during the Kadamba dynasty.

Backed by a massive budget and shot on an epic scale—including war sequences featuring over 3,000 people and 500 skilled fighters—the project has undergone extensive preparation, with Shetty training in horse riding, Kalari, and sword-fighting. The buzz surrounding the film has been immense, amplified by a fiery promotional campaign, including a fire-themed logo unveiled in partnership with PVR INOX, and first-look posters of new characters like Rukmini Vasanth as Kanakavathi and Gulshan Devaiah as Kulashekara.



In a major musical collaboration, Diljit Dosanjh is set to record a special track for the film at YRF Studios, Mumbai, aimed at expanding the film’s North Indian appeal as part of its pan-India strategy. The soundtrack and trailer—expected to drop on September 20, 2025—are expected to play a key role in widening its cultural reach.

With the digital rights reportedly sold for ₹125 crore, multi-language distribution (Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and English), and national attention growing by the day, Kantara: Chapter 1 is positioned not just as a sequel, but as a spiritual epic brimming with action, folklore, and divinity—poised to become one of India’s biggest cinematic events of 2025.