Rishab Shetty's Blockbuster Prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, Sets Digital Premiere Date

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Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has topped the list of box-office success stories in 2025. The movie has reportedly grossed over Rs. 800 crore worldwide, leaving behind Chaava. Following this huge success, the makers have finally decided to release it on OTT. Check out the Kantara: Chapter 1 OTT release date and other details here.

Release Platform and Language Details

Kantara: Chapter 1 delves into the origins of the Daiva Kola tradition and has just received its OTT release date on Amazon Prime Video. It is scheduled for release on 31 October 2025. It is to be premiered in multiple languages, including in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. To broaden the movie's reach worldwide, an English-language version is also set to release later in the same month.

The Origin Story: Exploring the World of Daiva Kola

The ritual Buta Kola is also known as Bhuta Kolam, Daiva Kola, or Daiva Nema and it is basically a Hindu folk dance performance. It’s a tradition followed and preserved by the Tuluvas of Tulu Nadu over a long period. This tradition is mainly practiced in Karnataka's coastal regions and the Kasaragod taluk in northern Kerala, India.

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This ancient ritual form of spirit worship is an important part of the Tulu-speaking community's culture, with its history that dates back to 700–800 BCE. The Daiva or Bhoota refers to a class of supernatural spirits, which are distinct from human beings and gods, and the kola is the ceremonial act used to appease them.

Bhuta-Kola ceremony is essentially a yearly performance in which local deities or spirits are invoked by ritual specialists. These gods are regarded as kshetrapalas, or a guardian deity of a piece of land. Additionally, their narratives are often derived from heroic historical characters who had attained martyrdom or carried out heroic acts. The overarching goal of the Daivas is to dispense justice in society and promote balance in the cosmos. Devotees feel that neglecting them may cause bad luck.

Rishab Shetty's Rs. 800-crore hit, Kantara: Chapter 1, is set for its OTT premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 31 October, less than a month after its theatrical release. It will stream in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.

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