Kantara: Chapter 1
{{Short description|Upcoming Indian Kannada-language action film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{For|the franchise's first installment|Kantara: Chapter 2}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kantara: Chapter 1
| image = File:Kantara- Chapter 1 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Rishab Shetty
| producer = Vijay Kiragandur
Chaluve Gowda
| writer = Rishab Shetty
| starring = {{Plain list|
- Rishab Shetty
- Jayaram
}}
| cinematography = Arvind S. Kashyap
| music = B. Ajaneesh Loknath
| studio = Hombale Films
| released = {{Film date|2025|10|02|df=yes}}
| country = India
| language = Kannada
| budget = ₹125
| runtime =
}}
Kantara: Chapter 1 is an upcoming Indian Kannada-language fantasy action film{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Mohanlal to play Rishab Shetty's father in Kantara Chapter 1: Report |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mohanlal-to-play-rishab-shettys-father-in-kantara-chapter-1-report-2609408-2024-10-01 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=India Today |language=en}} set during the reign of Kadambas of Banavasi{{citation|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/kantara-chapter-1-teaser-out-rishab-shettys-prequel-to-be-set-in-300-ce-101701073014752.html|title=Kantara Chapter 1 teaser out: Rishab Shetty's prequel to be set in 300 CE?|date=Nov 27, 2023|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=28 November 2023|archive-date=28 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128043410/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/kantara-chapter-1-teaser-out-rishab-shettys-prequel-to-be-set-in-300-ce-101701073014752.html|url-status=live}} written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/chaluve-gowda-reveals-hombale-films-oscar-strategy-kantara-chapter-1-waves-2025/|title=Chaluve Gowda reveals Hombale Films' Oscar strategy for Kantara Chapter 1 at WAVES 2025 1 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=Bollywood Hungama |date=3 May 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/kantara-kgf-2-win-national-film-awards-2024-chaluve-gowda-of-hombale-films-reveals-how-it-happened-9517522/|title=Kantara, KGF 2 win National Film Awards 2024; Chaluve Gowda of Hombale Films reveals how it happened: 'Wanted to take Kannada cinema to…'|date=16 August 2024}} It is a prequel to the 2022 film Kantara as a part of duology of Kantara. The film stars Rishab Shetty and Jayaram in the lead roles.{{cite news|date=6 February 2023|title=Rishab Shetty: ನೀವು ನೋಡಿದ್ದೇ 'ಕಾಂತಾರ 2', 'ಕಾಂತಾರ-1' ಈಗ ರೆಡಿ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು; ರಿಷಬ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಅಧಿಕೃತ ಘೋಷಣೆ|newspaper=Vijaya Karnataka|url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/entertainment/news/rishab-shetty-speaks-about-kantara-2-movie/articleshow/97634099.cms|author=Padmashree Bhat|accessdate=29 August 2023}}
Filming began in November 2023. The first look and teaser was released on 27 November 2023. Rishab Shetty plays the role of a Naga Sadhu with superhuman powers.{{Cite web |date=25 November 2025 |title=The wait is finally over! Here's when Kantara: Chapter 1 first look will be unveiled |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/english/entertainment/movie/rishab-shetty-and-hombale-films-kantara-prequel-first-look-to-be-unveiled-soon-film-titled-kantara-chapter-1/na20231125093941944944662 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Kantara 2 Teaser: Rishab Shetty Is Covered in Blood and Has Fire In His Eyes in First Look, Watch |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/kantara-2-teaser-rishab-shetty-is-covered-in-blood-and-has-fire-in-his-eyes-in-first-look-watch-8678058.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=News18 |language=en}} The publicity poster was designed by Kaani Studio.{{cite news |author=Yashika Mathur |date=7 July 2023 |title=Rishab Shetty shares update on Kantara 2: 'We will start shooting… |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/exclusive-rishab-shetty-shares-update-on-kantara-2-we-will-start-shooting-8805443/ |accessdate=29 August 2023 |newspaper=The Indian Express |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815181642/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/exclusive-rishab-shetty-shares-update-on-kantara-2-we-will-start-shooting-8805443/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=7 February 2023 |title=Rishab Shetty announces 'Kantara 2' launch in 2024; Says it will be a 'Prequel'. |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/rishab-shetty-announces-kantara-2-launch-in-2024-says-it-will-be-a-prequel-read-more-here/articleshow/97681772.cms |access-date=29 August 2023 |newspaper=The Economic Times}} B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the soundtrack and background score. The film will be released on 2 October 2025.
Cast
- Rishab Shetty as Shiva and Kantara
- Jayaram
- Rakesh Poojari
Production
The film was produced by Vijay Kiragandur through Hombale Films.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/south-cinema/vijay-kiragandur-unveils-exciting-updates-kantara-2-kgf-weve-completed-30-per-cent-filming/|title=Vijay Kiragandur unveils exciting updates on Kantara 2 and KGF: "We've completed about 30 per cent of the filming" : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=Bollywood Hungama |date=10 October 2024}} Shetty learned horse riding, Kalaripayattu and sword fighting for the role.{{Cite news |date=2025-04-02 |title='Kantara: Chapter 1' release date confirmed: When will Rishabh Shetty's much-awaited prequel hit the theatres |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/kantara-chapter-1-release-date-confirmed-when-will-rishabh-shettys-much-awaited-prequel-hit-the-theatres/articleshow/119908972.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}
The film features a grand war sequence choreographed by national and international experts. The sequence includes over 500 skilled fighters and a total cast of nearly 3,000. Shot on a 25-acre set in Karnataka's mountains, the war sequence took nearly 50 days to film.
The shooting was finished on 7 July 2025.{{Cite web |last=Sistu |first=Suhas |date=2025-07-08 |title=‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ wraps filming, all set for a grand release on Oct 2 |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/kantara-chapter-1-wraps-filming-all-set-for-a-grand-release-on-oct-2-986358 |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=The Hans India |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2025-07-07 |title='Kantara: Chapter 1' poster unveiled on Rishab Shetty’s birthday; Shoot wrapped, release announced |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/kantara-chapter-1-poster-unveiled-on-rishab-shettys-birthday-shoot-wrapped-release-announced/articleshow/122289173.cms |access-date=2025-07-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |title=Kantara Chapter 1 First Look Poster: Rishab Shetty’s Fierce, Warrior-Like Avatar Leaves Fans Awestruck |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/regional-cinema/kantara-chapter-1-poster-rishab-shettys-fierce-warrior-like-avatar-leaves-fans-awestruck-ws-l-9425383.html |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=News18 |language=en}}
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack album and background score were composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, who had composed for the prequel, Kantara.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Release
= Theatrical =
Kantara: Chapter 1 is scheduled for a theatrical release on 2 October 2025, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.{{Cite web |title=Kantara Chapter 1 teaser: Rishab Shetty is fierce and mighty in film's first look . |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kantara-chapter-1-teaser-rishab-shetty-is-fierce-and-mighty-in-films-first-look-first-look-november-27-kantara-2468000-2023-11-27 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=India Today |date=27 November 2023 |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141320/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kantara-chapter-1-teaser-rishab-shetty-is-fierce-and-mighty-in-films-first-look-first-look-november-27-kantara-2468000-2023-11-27 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |access-date=17 November 2024 |title=Kantara Chapter 1 release date: Rishab Shetty's prequel will be out next year on Gandhi Jayanti |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/kantara-chapter-1-release-date-rishab-shettys-prequel-will-be-out-next-year-on-gandhi-jayanti-101731843479883.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=17 November 2024 |archive-date=17 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117120638/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/kantara-chapter-1-release-date-rishab-shettys-prequel-will-be-out-next-year-on-gandhi-jayanti-101731843479883.html |url-status=live }}The film will also release the dubbed versions including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Malayalam.
= Home media =
The digital distribution rights of the film were acquired by Amazon Prime.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 OTT Release: Where And When To Watch Rishab Shetty's Film |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/binge/kantara-a-legend-chapter-1-ott-release-where-and-when-to-watch-rishab-shettys-film-630534.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=IndiaTimes |language=en-IN |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141320/https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/binge/kantara-a-legend-chapter-1-ott-release-where-and-when-to-watch-rishab-shettys-film-630534.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sharadhaa |first=A. |date=2024-03-21 |title=Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 secures digital rights for a whopping price |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2024/Mar/21/rishab-shettys-kantara-chapter-1-secures-digital-rights-for-a-whopping-price |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Cinema Express |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141320/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2024/Mar/21/rishab-shettys-kantara-chapter-1-secures-digital-rights-for-a-whopping-price |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|id=https://x.com/KantaraFilm?t=1SxCcRDf4s0SpuE_e0FWMA&s=09}}
- {{IMDb title}}
Category:Upcoming Kannada-language films
Category:Films directed by Rishab Shetty