“Kantara: Chapter 1”, the much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, released yesterday but received a mixed response from audiences. Expectations were sky-high, but many feel that the makers failed to capitalize on the buzz by not promoting the film aggressively.
While the trailer was visually impressive, a section of the audience felt it was deliberately underplayed, leading to limited hype before release. As a result, the advance bookings in India and overseas, especially in the United States, have been lower than expected. Industry experts believe this is due to the lack of strong promotions.
Adding to the challenge, another big film OG is also releasing this week in English, which could affect Kantara: Chapter 1’s box office momentum.
However, the presence of Rukmini Vasanth alongside Rishab Shetty has added freshness to the cast, and the film still holds significant advantages in terms of content and scale. Trade circles suggest that the makers must launch an aggressive promotional campaign over the next 10 days to ensure massive openings across the country.
The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 2 in multiple languages, and fans are eagerly waiting to see how it performs once promotions pick up.
