Kantara Expecting King-Size Business From Telugu States

Kantara: Chapter 1, slated for release on October 2, is already creating huge buzz in the trade circles. Produced by Hombale Films and directed by Rishab Shetty, the film is said to be mounted on a massive scale with a production budget reportedly touching the 200 crore mark. Compared to the first installment, which was made on just 16 crores, this prequel is a giant leap.

From the production videos and visuals released so far, the grandeur is evident, and naturally, expectations are sky-high. The buzz in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana trade circles is equally strong. Reports suggest that Kantara Chapter 1 is targeting over 100 crore business from Telugu states alone.

The numbers being quoted are staggering, Nizam rights are said to be closing around 40 crores, Andhra around 45 crores, and Ceded close to 15 crores. These are the kind of figures usually reserved only for tier-1 star heroes of tollywood.

Going by the trade talk, the film needs to collect at least 170 crores gross from Telugu states to comfortably cross the breakeven mark. That will only be possible if the film generates extraordinary word of mouth.

Adding more interest, the film is releasing just a week after Pawan Kalyan’s OG, which itself carries massive expectations. If OG turns out to be a blockbuster, it will dominate the box office for at least a month. For Kantara to sustain and perform in such a competitive window, the content has to be extremely strong.

Featuring Rukmini Vasanth as the female lead, Kantara Chapter 1 explores the events that took place before the story of the first part. With its devotional thriller angle and heavy production values, the film is being keenly awaited. Whether it truly lives up to the hype and achieves the king-size business from Telugu states will be clear once it hits the theaters.