Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has taken the box office by storm ever since its release on October 1. The prequel tells the story of Berme, a young tribal man from the Kantara forest, whose destiny changes after a violent conflict with Prince Kulasekhara of the Bangra Kingdom.
With its divine themes, intense action, and gripping storytelling, the film has kept audiences enthralled and theatres packed for over three weeks.
Now, Amazon Prime Video has officially confirmed that Kantara: Chapter 1 will begin streaming on the platform from October 31, 2025 just four weeks after its theatrical debut.
The announcement has surprised both fans and trade analysts, as the movie is still performing exceptionally well, particularly in its Kannada and Hindi versions. Many questioned the timing, calling it an unusually early OTT release for such a major hit.
While the film is nearing the lifetime collection of Chhaava, potentially becoming the highest-grossing film of 2025, fans are asking, “Why the urgency when theatres are still full?”
Reports suggest that Prime Video will stream Kantara: Chapter 1 in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, while the Hindi version will arrive only after eight weeks, due to the prior agreement with multiplex chains in North India.
However, the early OTT release has raised concerns that it might hurt the film’s box office run. With the original Kannada version available online, many viewers may prefer watching it with subtitles on Prime Video instead of going to cinemas.
From a theatrical perspective, industry experts believe this could turn out to be a strategic misstep, as the movie still had strong momentum in theatres before its OTT release announcement.
