Yet another magnum opus from Hombale Films, Kantara Chapter 1—a prequel to Kantara (released on September 30, 2022)—is all set for a grand release on October 2, 2025, with massive making and investment.
The visionary behind Hombale Films, Vijay Kiragandur, has planned to release Kantara 1 in over 7,000 screens across India. The count for overseas screens is yet to be announced, but the release will be simultaneous worldwide.
On the opening day of Navaratri, September 22, the ever-innovative producer Vijay Kiragandur revealed that Kantara 1 is heading for release in over 30 countries, scheduled for Vijayadashami.
In a historic first for Kannada cinema, a Spanish-dubbed version of the film will be released in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and parts of South America—a proud moment for Indian cinema.
Starting from September 27, the team will travel to cities like Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, and parts of North India for promotional events. Since Rishab Shetty is both the director and lead actor, his schedule is being adjusted accordingly for further promotional plans, Vijay Kiragandur mentioned.
The media interaction with the team lasted over an hour and was held at Kalinga Hall, Lalith Ashok Hotel, where the atmosphere was vibrant and well-organized. More than 150 journalists, including crews from TV channels, print media, and YouTube platforms, attended the first official media briefing of the magnum opus Kantara 1.
The opening question addressed a burning issue: Hombale Films and the Multiplex Association of India approaching the High Court against the Karnataka state government’s order to cap ticket prices at Rs. 200.
While a verdict is awaited, producer Vijay Kiragandur responded diplomatically “I do want to talk about this topic, but I don’t think this is the right time. We’ll speak on this matter another day,” he said politely.
The event was noteworthy in several other ways. The hall was thoughtfully arranged with separate spaces for print, electronic, and digital media. Vijay Kiragandur made a heartfelt impression by personally greeting each journalist with a smile and handshake. Following him, National Award-winning actor-director Rishab Shetty also moved through the room, individually greeting media members at their seats.
The prestigious Sri Raghavendra Chitravani, with nearly 50 years in the film publicity space, played a key role in organizing the event. Veteran PRO DG Venkatesh (also known as Sudheendra Venkatesh) personally introduced Vijay Kiragandur to members of the media. The event was smoothly managed with the dedicated support of DG Vasu, Sunil Sudheendra, and Pavan Venkatesh, all of whom ensured the briefing was conducted with utmost care and professionalism.