Hombale Films has once again delivered a blockbuster with Rishab Shetty’s period folk action thriller, Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1, as the film races toward a staggering ₹325 crore worldwide gross after its 4-day extended opening weekend. With strong performances across languages and territories, Kantara has captured the imagination of audiences nationwide, setting new benchmarks for Kannada cinema and pan-India releases.
Kantara Chapter 1: A Record-Breaking Start
Kantara opened to a phenomenal reception, earning approximately ₹88 crore worldwide on its first day. The film maintained momentum on Friday with around ₹65 crore, before surging on Saturday with a 21% growth, grossing ₹82 crore globally. After three days, the cumulative worldwide collection stood at roughly ₹235 crore, and early estimates suggest Sunday (Day 4) could push India net beyond ₹260 crore and overseas earnings above ₹50 crore, taking the worldwide total to ₹325 crore.
At the domestic box office, Kantara’s multi-language release strategy has been a major factor in its success. The Kannada version alone contributed ₹19.6 crore on opening day, while the Hindi version added ₹18.5 crore, alongside Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam versions. Such a pan-India reach has positioned Kantara to not only dominate this weekend but also challenge records of previous Kannada blockbusters.
Most notably, Kantara chapter 1 has overtaken KGF Chapter 1, which grossed ₹248 crore worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing Kannada film of all time, only behind KGF Chapter 2 (₹1248 crore) and the first Kantara (₹400 crore). Trade pundits suggest the film could even surpass its predecessor’s total within the opening week itself, opening the door for Kantara Chapter 1 to become the first Indian film in 2025 to breach ₹1000 crore worldwide if current trends continue.
Top Performers This Weekend
While Kantara dominates the box office, other films also made their presence felt:
Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 — ₹223.25 crore (India net, 4-day weekend)
Idly Kadai (Extended Weekend) — ₹38.60 crore (Day 1–5 cumulative)
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari — ₹30 crore (4-day weekend)
Both Idly Kadai and Sunny Sanskari performed moderately, holding steady in regional markets, though they were clearly overshadowed by Kantara’s runaway success.
Weekend Analysis: Audience Trends and Insights
Kantara’s rise demonstrates the power of regional films with pan-India appeal. Festival timing, such as the Dussehra weekend, helped boost footfall, while strong word-of-mouth and multi-language releases ensured consistent occupancy across markets. Overseas, the film earned $6 million (~₹45 crore) during the weekend, further solidifying its international footprint.
The film’s growth trajectory indicates that mid-tier Hindi films like Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, while stable, cannot compete with the momentum of a culturally resonant, visually grand, and multi-language release like Kantara. Similarly, Idly Kadai benefitted from its extended weekend strategy but remains a secondary player in the market.
Holdovers in Their Final Legs
Several older releases remain on screens but are in the decline phase:
They Call Him OG — Weekend net: ₹4.75 Cr + ₹4.6 Cr + ₹4.35 Cr (Weekend total ~13.7 Cr) → Total ~183 Cr
Jolly LLB 3 — Weekend net: ₹1.15 Cr + ₹1.75 Cr + ₹2.20 Cr (Weekend total ~5.1 Cr) → Total ~108 Cr
- Mirai — Weekend net: ₹0.8 Cr + ₹1.35 Cr + ₹1.6 Cr (Weekend total ~3.75 Cr)→ Total ~89 Cr
- Lokah: Chapter 1 Chandra — Weekend total ~2.5 Cr → Total ~180 Cr
These numbers indicate a clear market trend: older films are rapidly losing traction as festival blockbusters like Kantara dominate screens and audience attention.
Kantara Sets the Stage for a Record-Breaking Year
With strong domestic and international collections, Kantara Chapter 1 has proven that regional cinema can lead the Indian box office in 2025. Surpassing KGF Chapter 1 and HanuMan in its first weekend, the film has already etched its name in Kannada cinema history. Its multi-language strategy, festive timing, and universal appeal are positioning it to become the biggest Indian film of the year, potentially the first film to cross ₹1000 crore worldwide in 2025.
Meanwhile, mid-tier Hindi and regional films maintain stable returns, but the dominance of Kantara underscores a key trend: audiences are gravitating toward culturally rich, large-scale cinematic experiences that resonate across India and abroad. If Kantara continues its momentum, it will redefine the benchmarks for Indian cinema’s festival weekend releases.
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