Hombale Films has just given fans around the world a reason to celebrate — Kantara: Chapter 1, the mythic prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, is all set to transcend languages and borders. In a thrilling announcement, the studio revealed that the English version of the film will release in cinemas worldwide on October 31, inviting global audiences to experience “a divine saga that resonates beyond borders and languages.”
Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 dives deep into the origins of faith, ancestry, and man’s eternal bond with nature. The prequel, produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under the Hombale Films banner, brings back Shetty in the lead, joined by an impressive cast featuring Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah.
Set against the mystical backdrop of pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the film explores the ancient lore surrounding the sacred ritual of Buta Kola—a spiritual art form deeply rooted in the region’s cultural heritage. Through this origin story, Kantara: Chapter 1 expands upon the themes of devotion, conflict, and divine intervention that captivated audiences in the first film.
Visually rich and deeply philosophical, the prequel is an immersive journey through myth and manhood, blending action, folklore, and the pulse of native traditions. Cinematography by Arvind Kashyap and music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath further elevate the grandeur of the narrative, while the production’s breathtaking scale cements it as one of India’s most ambitious cinematic sagas.
Currently, Kantara: Chapter 1 stands as the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of all time and also ranks among the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025 — a testament to its universal appeal and cultural resonance.
As the film readies its English-language premiere this October, Hombale Films continues to prove that some stories are not bound by dialects—they echo through devotion, duty, and destiny. So this Halloween, prepare to witness divinity meet destiny as Kantara roars into theaters once again—this time, in English.