Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 continues its phenomenal run at the box office, showing remarkable consistency well into its third week.
The film, which released on October 2 in five languages – Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi – has now grossed an estimated ₹638.5 crore across India in 19 days, with a worldwide total inching closer to the ₹700 crore mark, as per Sacnilk data.
Strong Hold After Two Record-Breaking Weeks
After a thunderous opening, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 collected ₹403.25 crore in its first week, followed by another ₹176.25 crore in its second week. Even as it entered its third week, the film retained impressive traction. On its third Monday (Day 19), the movie added ₹13.75 crore, taking its India gross to ₹638.5 crore.
Among language versions, the Kannada version remains the top contributor with ₹212.25 crore, followed by the Hindi version (₹210.1 crore) which has shown exceptional legs in urban centers like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. The Telugu version has collected ₹101.15 crore so far, while the Tamil version has brought in ₹62.95 crore and the Malayalam version ₹52.05 crore.
Kannada Version Dominates Heartland Karnataka
On Monday, October 20, the Kannada version registered an overall 41.27% occupancy, an impressive figure for a third-week weekday. Mysuru and Shivamogga continued to lead with packed houses, recording 65.25% and 71.75% occupancy, respectively. Coastal towns like Kundapura and Tumakuru reported phenomenal turnouts of 78.75% and 82%. Bengaluru maintained a healthy 39.5% occupancy across 637 shows – a strong performance given the film’s wide multilingual release in the city.
Telugu Version Steady in Andhra-Telangana Belt
The Telugu version reported an overall 26.05% occupancy on the same day, with Hyderabad performing the best at 27% across 208 shows. Vijayawada and Guntur regions also maintained stable numbers with 35.5% and 36% occupancy, respectively. Interestingly, the Telugu version has seen some crossover screenings in Bengaluru and parts of Karnataka, where it posted 45.25% average occupancy – a testament to the film’s pan-regional appeal.
Hindi Version Gains Ground in Metros
The Hindi dubbed version of Kantara 2 remains a major contributor outside the southern states. On Monday, its all-India occupancy stood at 13.58%, with higher numbers in Mumbai (20%) and Pune (18.75%). Bengaluru also showed a surprising 32.25% turnout for the Hindi version, reflecting the city’s bilingual audience. The film continues to perform steadily in NCR, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad circuits, indicating sustained interest in northern and western markets.
Tamil Version Emerges as a Powerhouse
If any version surprised trade trackers this week, it was the Tamil one. Kantara 2 recorded a stunning 74.06% Tamil occupancy on Monday – the highest among all languages. Chennai led the charge with 75.5%, while Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, and Pondicherry saw houseful or near-houseful shows, crossing the 80-90% range. The Tamil version, released widely across South India – including Bengaluru, Kochi, and Trivandrum – has been buoyed by exceptional word-of-mouth and strong weekend demand.
Steady Momentum in Kerala
The Malayalam version saw an overall occupancy of 29.81%, led by Kochi (34%) and Kozhikode (34.75%). The film continues to do well in major towns such as Thrissur, Trivandrum, and Kollam, despite facing competition from new Malayalam releases. Bengaluru also contributed marginally to the Malayalam version’s numbers, with a 53% occupancy recorded across limited shows.