Prime Video had announced on Sunday that Kantara: Chapter 1 will be releasing soon for subscribers of the platform. On Monday, the streamer officially confirmed the premiere date: October 31.
Kantara: Chapter 1 will be available for viewing in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
Earlier, Rishab had announced the release of the English version in theatres on October 31. Interestingly, around 34 minutes of material will be excised for this new edit. The original Kannada-language (and dubbed) version has a duration of 2 hr 49 mins, while the English version will run for 2 hr 14 mins.
Rishab posted the announcement with the English version's poster and runtime on his social media pages last week.
In its review of Kantara: Chapter 1, THE WEEK wrote: "Some may come away feeling so awestruck by the massive sets, the extras, the stunning light-and-sound display, the third-act twist and accompanying grand battle, and, of course, Rishab Shetty employing every muscle and fiber in his body to give us more of the chill-inducing transformational act he pulled in the first film, this time as a tribal warrior named Berme. Undeniably spectacular, for Indian cinema standards. A proud moment, indeed, for the Kannada film industry. Yet for all its grandeur, the film lacks the emotional impact and catharsis that defined the original. Shiva, from the original, was a more complex, flawed protagonist. In comparison, the personal stakes and transformative journey of Berme feel less affecting, proving that spectacle alone doesn't achieve deeper engagement."
