Kantara Chapter 1 is set to release soon, with advance bookings in Karnataka already crossing 10,000 tickets. Premiere shows are expected on the evening of October 1. The buzz is strong, but in Andhra Pradesh, ticket price hikes remain the biggest talking point.
Distributors are discussing a Rs. 50 hike for the Telugu dubbed version. Telangana may not allow it since the film is dubbed, while Andhra Pradesh could approve, as seen earlier with War 2 and Coolie. The decision is awaited.
The exact premiere show timings on October 1 are yet to be fixed. Options include starting at 7 PM with two evening shows or having one late-night screening followed by early morning shows. Updates are expected in the next few days.
Promotions have been limited so far, apart from Rishab Shetty’s media talks and a big pre-release event in Hyderabad with Junior NTR. To boost excitement, the makers are releasing the first song today. Brahma Kalasha, an ode to Lord Shiva, will drop tonight.
The producers believe the combination of promotions and sequel hype will bring solid opening numbers. Regular ticket pricing, like in the case of Mirai, is expected to maximise collections. Strong demand is already evident across markets.
Some increase in Andhra Pradesh seems unavoidable due to the high rights cost. Telangana has fixed ceilings of Rs. 295 for multiplexes and Rs. 175 for single screens, so no extra hikes may apply. With premiere shows planned, the festive rush for Kantara Chapter 1 will begin on October 1.
