The much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, titled Kantara: Chapter 1, is gearing up for a grand release on October 2. Directed and headlined by Rishab Shetty, the film has been in the making for over two years and is already making waves with its visuals, scale, and advance bookings.
According to trade reports, advance ticket sales in India have already crossed ₹4.2 crore, more than double the first film’s opening day collections. The team recently hosted a pre-release event in Hyderabad with Jr. NTR as the chief guest, which drew massive crowds.
NTR as the chief guest, which drew massive crowds.
The Hyderabad Event Controversy
The excitement, however, was overshadowed by controversy. At the Hyderabad event, Rishab Shetty chose to speak only in Kannada, unlike in Tamil Nadu or Hindi-speaking states where he had addressed fans in their local languages.
This decision upset many Telugu fans, who felt that their culture and language were being disrespected. Clips of his speech soon went viral, sparking heated debates across social media.
BoycottKantaraChapter1 Trends on Social Media
The backlash snowballed, leading to the hashtag #BoycottKantaraChapter1 trending on X (formerly Twitter). Several Telugu fans even drew parallels with Pawan Kalyan’s film They Call Him OG, which reportedly faced screening hurdles in Karnataka. As a mark of protest, they demanded a boycott of Kantara: Chapter 1 in Telugu states.
Ticket Price Backlash
The controversy didn’t end there. Fans expressed anger over the increased ticket prices for the Telugu dubbed version. Many questioned why a dubbed film should be priced on par with the original Kannada version, accusing the makers of unfairly exploiting Telugu audiences.
Will the Boycott Impact the Film?
Despite the trending boycott calls, industry experts believe the impact may remain limited. The first Kantara became a pan-India blockbuster due to strong word-of-mouth and emotional connect with audiences. If Kantara: Chapter 1 receives similar positive feedback, trade analysts expect it to perform strongly at the box office.
As things stand, all eyes are now on October 2, when audiences will decide if the boycott buzz affects the film’s box office journey.
