This year’s biggest blockbuster, Kantara Chapter 1, is set to make its digital debut on Amazon Prime Video tomorrow in major South Indian languages. Directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, the film has been performing well in theatres since its release, drawing huge crowds across regions.
The announcement of an early OTT release, barely four weeks after the film hit cinemas, left many surprised. With the movie still going strong at the box office, several wondered why the makers decided to bring it online so soon.
According to the film’s co-producer, Chaluve Gowda, the decision wasn’t a sudden one. The early streaming release was part of an agreement made nearly three years ago, when the industry’s release window practices were different. As per that contract, only the South Indian versions will drop on Amazon Prime Video for now, while the Hindi version will arrive after eight weeks.
Gowda also mentioned that this move is unlikely to affect box office performance in a big way, expecting only a small dip of around 10–15% in collections.
Despite the early digital release, Kantara Chapter 1 continues to dominate worldwide, collecting over Rs. 816 crore and becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. The film also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah, with music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath and production by Hombale Films.