Rishab Shetty’s much-anticipated film ‘Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1’ is gearing up for a grand worldwide release on October 2, 2025 which is coinciding with Dussehra. As anticipation peaks, the first set of reviews has begun to surface online, with reports saying that the premiere shows have happened.
‘Kantara Chapter 1’ first review
According to early viewers quoted by Telugu Filmy Focus, Kantara Chapter 1 has lived up to the hype in many ways. “Kantara Chapter 1 was very grand, and all the questions created in the first part were clarified in the second part…! It was even grander,” read the reactions. The film’s technical strengths also drew praise. Viewers highlighted the music, background score, and cinematography as being “top notch.”Meanwhile, performances stood out, with fans noting “Rukmini Vasanth’s glamour and Rishab Shetty’s intense performance will also entertain.” The early buzz from these reactions points towards a film that delivers spectacle while staying rooted in the mystery and spirit of its predecessor.
A mixed review arrives for ‘Kantara Chapter 1’
Not all feedback has been glowing. Film critic Umair Sandhu posted his take on X, writing: “First Review #KantaraChapter1 ! All that glitters is not gold ! Overrated & Weird kind of film.”As there are not many reviews out for the film, we have to check out genuine ratings for Rishab Shetty’s film on October 2 itself. Meanwhile, Rishab Shetty had faced backlash for his failure to speak in Telugu during the Hyderabad promotions for ‘Kantara Chapter 1’ which was also attended by Jr NTR.
Advance bookings shatter records
The pre-release excitement has soared for ‘Kantara Chapter 1’. As per Money Control, advance bookings opened on Sunday and within a day, the film sold over 1.7 lakh tickets, raking in Rs 5.7 crore in pre-sales. To put that into perspective, the first Kantara collected just Rs 2 crore on its opening day back in 2022. In fact, ‘Kantara Chapter 1’ has already outperformed advance sales of big-ticket films like Hrithik Roshan–Jr. NTR’s ‘War 2’ and Pawan Kalyan’s ‘They Call Him OG’. Meanwhile, the Pawan Kalyan starrer ‘OG’ has crossed Rs 150 crores from India.
