diri-au.org – Fashion & Cultural Identity Commentary

Meet Pragathi Shetty, the creative force behind the stunning visuals of 'Kantara: Chapter 1', and the proud partner of Rishab Shetty, famous for his stellar performance in the same film. Once a software engineer and an engineering graduate, Pragathi embarked on her journey into cinema, where she has become a celebrated costume designer for films like 'Bell Bottom' and 'Kantara'.

Rishab Shetty's film Kantara Chapter 1 is a box office success. The movie earned Rs 33.5 crore on its first Tuesday. Its six-day total stands at Rs 290.25 crore. The film is projected to surpass Rs 300 crore soon. Positive word-of-mouth is driving its strong performance. Kantara Chapter 1 is a prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara.

Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor's Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari garnered a mixed reception, earning Rs 33 crore domestically by its first Monday. Despite a strong opening, the film experienced a significant drop in collections, facing competition from Kantara Chapter 1 and struggling to reach the Rs 50-crore global mark.

Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 has achieved a remarkable box office success, crossing Rs 255.75 crore in India within five days. The film has shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing Kannada film of the year. This prequel, set a millennium before the original, depicts a conflict between a jungle village and a neighboring kingdom.

'Kantara Chapter 1' premiered today to a massive global start, achieving houseful shows and positive reviews. The film, blending mythology and folklore, features devotional moments that sparked a fan's viral spiritual transformation. Directed by Rishab Shetty, this prequel is poised to be a top opening day grosser for a South Indian film in 2025.

After a promising start, Pawan Kalyan's 'They Call Him OG' is witnessing a decline at the box office, with Day 7 earnings dropping to Rs 7 crore, totaling Rs 161.85 crore. The film is experiencing moderate occupancy as it battles fierce competition from Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara Chapter 1'.

Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara Chapter 1’ releases October 2. During filming, three actors passed away, sparking rumors of a curse. Shetty clarified the deaths were tragic but unrelated to the film. He fondly remembered late co-star Rakesh Poojary and addressed social media’s negative narrative with cautious optimism.

Content delivery problems affect South Indian film releases overseas. Pawan Kalyan's They Call Him OG faced delays last week. Now, Kantara: Chapter 1 IMAX versions are not delivered on time. Many cinemas cancelled IMAX showings. This impacts the film's box office prospects. The sequel needs a high collection to break even. The first Kantara started slowly.

Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor's 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' is set for an October 2 release, clashing with Rishabh Shetty's 'Kantara: Chapter 1'. Dhawan clarified their date shift, avoiding friends' films, and asserted the holiday is ample for both. Director Shashank Khaitan questioned limiting weekly releases.

Jr NTR praised Rishab Shetty's immense dedication for *Kantara Chapter 1*, highlighting the film's challenging production, including a remote temple shoot. This prequel, following the successful *Kantara*, delves into the Bhuta Kola ritual's origins with a new cast and B Ajaneesh Loknath returning as composer, set for an October 2 release.

Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara Chapter 1' is slated for a Kerala release on October 2, 2025, presented by Prithviraj Sukumaran. Advance bookings for Kerala open on September 28, following an initial theatrical share dispute that was later resolved. The film has already recorded strong advance booking figures across India, generating high expectations.