Kantara Chapter 1 First Reviews: A Grand Answer to the Prequel's Mysteries
The cinematic universe of 'Kantara' is set to expand with Rishab Shetty's highly anticipated prequel, 'Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1'. The film is officially scheduled for a grand worldwide release on October 2, 2025, a date that strategically coincides with the auspicious festival of Dussehra. As the countdown begins, the first wave of audience reactions from premiere shows has started to surface online, offering a tantalizing early glimpse into the epic saga.
Early Buzz: Spectacle, Answers, and Technical Brilliance
According to reports from early viewers, the film is living up to the monumental hype. One viewer, quoted by Telugu Filmy Focus, declared the experience as "very grand," confirming that "all the questions created in the first part were clarified in the second part." The consensus among these initial reactions is that the prequel manages to outshine its predecessor in scale, with many describing it as "even grander." The film's technical aspects are receiving significant praise, with viewers highlighting the "top notch" quality of the music, background score, and cinematography.
Performances are also a major talking point. Fans have specifically noted Rukmini Vasanth's glamour and Rishab Shetty's intense performance as key elements that will entertain audiences. The early buzz strongly suggests that 'Kantara: Chapter 1' successfully delivers a visual spectacle while remaining deeply rooted in the cultural mystery and powerful spirit that defined the first film.
A Note of Caution Amidst the Praise
However, not all early feedback has been uniformly glowing. Film critic Umair Sandhu offered a contrasting opinion on social media platform X, writing, "First Review #KantaraChapter1 ! All that glitters is not gold ! Overrated & Weird kind of film." This mixed review highlights that, as with any major release, audience and critic opinions may vary. With only a handful of reviews available so far, the true critical and public consensus will only be clear when the film hits theaters on October 2.
Record-Shattering Advance Bookings Signal Massive Hype
The pre-release excitement for 'Kantara: Chapter 1' has translated into staggering commercial success even before its launch. As per a report by Money Control, advance bookings opened on a Sunday and within a single day, the film sold over 1.7 lakh tickets, generating an impressive Rs 5.7 crore in pre-sales. This is a monumental figure when compared to the original 'Kantara', which collected a total of just Rs 2 crore on its entire opening day back in 2022.
In fact, the pre-sales for 'Kantara: Chapter 1' have already surpassed the advance booking numbers of other major upcoming films, including the big-budget Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR starrer 'War 2' and Pawan Kalyan's 'They Call Him OG'. This demonstrates the immense brand value and audience connection that the Kantara franchise has built.
Meanwhile, the film's promotions were not without a minor controversy. Rishab Shetty faced some backlash for his inability to speak in Telugu during the Hyderabad promotional event, which was also attended by the Telugu superstar Jr NTR. Despite this, the overwhelming narrative online remains positive, with Twitter reviews praising Shetty as a "master storyteller" and the film's climax being described as a "goosebumps" inducing experience that has left fans awestruck.
All eyes are now on Dussehra 2025, when audiences worldwide will finally witness the legend unfold.
