Why is 'Kantara: Chapter 1' releasing on OTT despite still running strong in theatres? Makers reveal the real reason

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 is set to arrive on OTT after a massively successful run at the box office. The makers recently announced that the film will begin streaming on October 31, 2025. However, with the movie still performing well in theatres and drawing steady crowds, many have been wondering why it’s heading to OTT so soon. Now, a partner from the production house has cleared the air.

Why is Kantara: Chapter 1 releasing on OTT just four weeks after its theatrical run?

In a recent interview with India Today, Chaluve Gowda, a partner at Hombale Films, revealed that the early OTT release stems from a prior agreement. He explained, “Only the South language versions (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam) of the film will release on OTT right now — not the Hindi version.”




He further clarified that the Hindi version will premiere on streaming platforms eight weeks after its theatrical release. “The agreement for this release window was actually made three years ago, so it’s more of an obligation on our part. Back then, the standard practice was different,” Gowda shared.

The producer added that a shorter OTT window has now become common practice in the South Indian film industry. “Before COVID, it used to be eight weeks for all films. Post-COVID, even big releases like Coolie are arriving on OTT after four weeks across all languages, including Hindi. These decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis, depending on what’s working at the time,” he said.

Impact on box office numbers

Gowda also addressed concerns about the film’s box office performance following its OTT release. He expressed confidence that Kantara: Chapter 1 will continue to perform well, saying, “We expect it to keep doing well even after its digital release. The variation might only be around 10–15% at most.”

More about the film

A prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, the film stars Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah. It was released in theatres on October 2, 2025, and has already earned over Rs 800 crore worldwide. Meanwhile, 'Kantara: Chapter 1' is currently available to stream.