BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, October 6 - A historic milestone has finally been reached in the Malayalam cinema as Kalyani Priyadarshan's superhero film Lokah Chapter 1 - Chandra has become the first film ever to breach the 300 crore mark at the worldwide box office. This remarkable feat, once considered untouchable for a Malayalam-language film, underscores the industry’s expanding reach over the past few years. After its thunderous start at the box office, Dominic Arun's directorial has maintained extraordinary momentum across all major markets — from Kerala and the rest of South India to international territories like the UAE, the USA, and Europe. As of the 7th Saturday (45th day), the film has minted approximately 301.50 crores worldwide. Earlier, within just a few weeks of release, Lokah surpassed every major record set by previous Malayalam blockbusters, including Manjummel Boys, Empuraan, to become the industry hit. With its OTT release still not locked, which is one of the major reasons for the film's incredible long box office, the superhero film managed to achieve an unthinkable 300 crores milestone — a landmark moment for the industry. The film's mix of strong storytelling, visually captivating world-building, and Kalyani Priyadarshan's standout performance has resonated deeply with audiences, driving repeat viewership and word-of-mouth appeal. It blends mythology, philosophy, and fantasy in a way rarely attempted in Indian cinema. Lokah's success underscores the widening appeal of Malayalam storytelling, which continues to find loyal audiences far beyond its regional boundaries. Over the last few years, the industry has scaled to new highs, and Lokesh has only taken it further. It has reaffirmed Malayalam cinema's status as a powerhouse of creative and commercial brilliance. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, October 6 - Actor and director Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 has wrapped up its extended opening weekend on a strong note at the Hindi as well as the worldwide box office. Particularly in Hindi, the movie showed a positive trend, especially on Saturday and Sunday, with good growth to close the weekend. After showing steady growth through the first three days, the film witnessed another good jump on Sunday, collecting approximately 23.50 crores net, up by over 20% from Saturday's 19.50 crores net. The Kannada epic opened on a strong note with 18.50 crores net on Thursday, followed by a dip on Friday with 12.50 crores, before rebounding impressively over the weekend. With this trend, the 4-day extended weekend total of the period folk action thriller stands at approximately 74 crores net for the Hindi version alone — a good result considering the film's regional roots and competition from other major releases. It will cross the lifetime collection of Kantara (85 crores net) in the first week itself to become the second biggest Kannada grosser in Hindi. On the global front, Kantara Chapter 1 continues to roar louder, grossing over 320 crores worldwide within just four days of release. In India, Hombale Films' production has grossed approximately 268 crores, while the overseas collection is around 54 crores. This makes it the second-biggest opening weekend ever for a Kannada film, behind only KGF Chapter 2, and also the second-highest opening weekend of the year for any Indian film, across languages. The film's extraordinary run showcases once again the nationwide pull of Rishab Shetty's storytelling and the massive audience goodwill built from the first Kantara. With strong word of mouth and sustained occupancy even on non-holiday weekdays, Kantara Chapter 1 is poised to maintain its dominance in the days to come. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Bengaluru, October 5 - Hombale Films has delivered another big blockbuster in Rishab Shetty's period folk action thriller Kantara Chapter 1, which is heading towards 300+ crores 4-day extended opening weekend at the worldwide box office. After taking the opening of approximately 88 crores, the movie held strong on Friday with approximately 65 crores gross. On its third day (Saturday), the prequel scored solid gains of over 25% to gross an estimated 82 crores, pushing the total worldwide cumulative to around 235 crores after three days. At the domestic box office, Kantara 2 has grossed approximately 195 crores, while overseas collection is around 40 crores after three days. With the big Sunday underway, the divine blockbuster is expected to gross over 260 crores in India and 50+ crores overseas after the four-day opening frame. Written, directed, and headlined by Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 has become the third-highest-grossing Kannada movie of all time as I type this, beating Yash-fronted KGF Chapter 1 (237 crores worldwide). It is now behind only Kantara (408 crores) and KGF Chapter 2 (1215 crores) at number 3. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, October 5 - After the memorable debut with director Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, actor Ahaan Pandey has reportedly teamed up with Ali Abbas Zafar for his next, which is said to be a romantic actioner. The movie will be produced by Yash Raj Films, which also backed the actor's blockbuster debut. According to the latest reports, talented actress Sharvari Wagh has been finalised to play the female lead role opposite Pandey, marking another fresh on-screen pairing. Sharvari is managed by the YRF talent agency, and this marks her third lead project with the studio after Bunty Aur Babli 2 (debut film) and the upcoming spy actioner Alpha. Earlier, it was reported that Ali Abbas Zafar "wanted to go back to his roots, to the genre that has given him so much love with his next film. He was blown away seeing Ahaan Panday and his aura with emotional and dramatic scenes in Saiyaara". Ahaan was reportedly picked as the lead hero after Aditya Chopra advised his name to Zafar. The yet untitled film is currently in the pre-production stage, with the script already locked. The makers are aiming to take it on floors by the first quarter of 2026, with late in a late-year or early 2027 theatrical release worldwide. Meanwhile, Sharvari will next be seen in Alpha, co-starring Alia Bhatt and Bobby Deol, which is scheduled to release on Christmas this year. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, October 4 - After holding well on Friday (second day), Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 is seeing a strong surge at the Hindi box office on its third day. Till afternoon, trends suggested the film was all set to come very close to, or even match, its opening day numbers. Produced by Hombale Films, the period folk action thriller has seen a 50% jump in collections today compared to Friday, with the solid momentum towards the evening and night screenings. With such growth, the film is eyeing a Saturday total in the range of 18-20 crores net in Hindi. If the night occupancy remains as strong as expected, it could not only match the opening day figure of 18.50 crores net but could even go higher. So far, the film has collected 18.50 crores on Thursday (Day 1) and 12.50 crores on Friday (Day 2), taking its 2-day Hindi total to 31 crores net. With Saturday trending upwards, the 3-day total is projected to land in the 50 crores net range, a good figure for a dubbed release, with the first weekend now heading for 70 crores net. Written, directed, and headlined by Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 is benefiting from positive word of mouth and growing curiosity around its rooted storytelling. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, October 4 - Rishab Shetty's period folk action thriller Kantara Chapter 1 scored a good hold on its second day at the Hindi box office. After taking a good opening of 18.50 crores net, the movie dropped by just around 35% on Friday, which is normal for a holiday release. Produced by Hombale Films, Kantara 2 was released on a national holiday of Gandhi Jayanti and Dusshera, so the drop on its second day, which was a working Friday, is even lower in a normal scenario. It scored approximately 12.50 crores net, pushing the 2-day total to 31 crores in Hindi. The prequel, written, directed, and headlined by Shetty, is expected to show a big jump today and will look to come close to the opening day figures. Depending on how big the jump is, the film is heading for 65+ crores net opening weekend, which is a good result for a dubbed title. Kantara Chapter 1 is expected to outgross the lifetime collection of Kantara (2022), which minted approximately 84.75 crores net, in the 8-day extended week itself, and will become the second-highest-grossing Kannada movie in the dubbed Hindi version, behind only KGF: Chapter 2 (435 crores net). Meanwhile, at the worldwide box office, the blockbuster has crossed 150 crores in two days, including around 130 crores in India. It will cross 200 crores today and then will cross Yash's KGF 1 (237 crores gross) by Sunday to become the third highest-grossing Kannada movie of all-time, behind Kantara and KGF 2. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, October 4 - After the shocking theatrical run, Yash Raj Films' much-hyped spy thriller War 2 is now gearing up for its digital premiere, with a hope to change its fortune. The film, which was touted as one of the biggest events of the year, is scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix from October 8, 2025, in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. As a rule, War 2 will debut on digital platforms after completing its 8-week theatrical window, which is a must for a Bollywood film, unlike South Indian titles, which normally get available on OTT after 4 weeks, irrespective of their box office outcome. Despite sky-high expectations, War 2 failed to deliver at the box office. Being part of YRF's blockbuster Spy Universe and boasting a star-studded cast that includes Hrithik, Jr. NTR, and Kiara Advani, the sequel couldn't replicate the success of its predecessor and ended up as a box office shocker. With an estimated budget of over 400 crores, War 2 could only manage to gross around 365 crores worldwide, falling short of recovery and being tagged as a box office dud. The film opened to good numbers, but negative reviews and mixed word of mouth led to a steep drop in collections after the first weekend. While the Hindi version managed some numbers, the Telugu dubbed version underperformed drastically despite Jr NTR's presence. Now, with its Netflix release, War 2 will look to find a new life among home audiences who may have skipped its theatrical watch. Fans of the Spy Universe are still expected to tune in, especially as the film ties into the larger franchise storyline. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, October 4 - The rising Telugu actor Teja Sajja continued his winning streak at the box office with the sci-fi action-adventure film Mirai, after the big blockbuster success of Hanuman last year. The movie is now gearing up for its much-awaited digital release. As per the latest update, Mirai will start streaming on JioHotstar from October 10, 2025, in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil languages. However, Hindi audiences will have to wait a little longer, as the dubbed version is slated to premiere only after completing eight weeks of its theatrical run. Mirai will have the extended theatrical window. Normally, South Indian films start streaming after 4 weeks of the theatrical release, but here, Mirai will have an extra week to perform at the box office, as the OTT window for this movie is 5 weeks, which is a good change. The big-screen release of Mirai created solid buzz across India and overseas, turning into one of the Telugu cinema's biggest grossers of the year. So far, the film has amassed an impressive 142 crore worldwide gross, with 109 crore coming from the Indian box office alone. The OTT release will give fans another chance to revisit the visual extravaganza and also open the film to new audiences who missed it in theatres. With its blend of sci-fi themes, high-octane action, and stunning visuals, Mirai is expected to perform strongly in the digital space too, just as it did at the box office. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

South Indian cinema has always held a special place in the hearts of audiences, not just in India but across the globe. Known for its gripping storytelling, powerful performances, and technical brilliance, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films have built a strong presence on digital platforms in recent years. With the growing popularity of OTT services, movie lovers no longer have to wait long after theatrical releases to catch their favourite films at home. Streaming giants like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and ZEE5 have become the go-to destinations for audiences eager to watch South Indian blockbusters and hidden gems alike.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, October 3 - South Indian cinema continues to make a mark at the Hindi box office, and the latest to enter the race is Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1, which has taken a good start in the dubbed version, scoring 18.50 crore opening day. Among the top 10 biggest South Indian openers at the Hindi box office, Kantara 2 has secured the 8th spot. At the very top of the list is Allu Arjun's Pan India phenomenon, Pushpa 2: The Rule, which rewrote box office history with a mammoth 70 crore opening day in Hindi, which is a record. This number is far ahead of every other South release and firmly establishes Pushpa 2 as a true pan-India monster. Kannada superstar Yash's KGF Chapter 2 follows next with 54 crore net opening, a record that held strong until Pushpa 2 arrived. SS Rajamouli's epic blockbuster Baahubali 2: The Conclusion sits at number 3 with 41 crores net. It is worth noting that it was the Baahubali franchise, which originally opened the floodgates for South dominance in Hindi belts. Prabhas, easily the biggest South Indian star in the Hindi market, makes multiple entries in the top 10, with Saaho making it to the top 5, followed by his Kalki 2898 AD. Rajamouli's RRR, along with superstar Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar's sci-fi extravaganza 2.0, also entered the list with solid openings. Breaking into this power-packed list at No. 8, Kantara Chapter 1, which is the second Kannada movie in this coveted list. Unlike mass-heavy commercial entertainers like KGF or Pushpa, Kantara thrives on its unique storytelling, cultural rootedness, and mysticism, yet still managed to draw audiences in large numbers on day one. Prabhas' Salaar Part 1 - Ceasefire, followed by Ram Charan's Game Changer, and Jr. NTR's Devara Part 1, take the remaining spots in the list. The last two are the only films with less than 10 crores net openings in the list in the Hindi version. Top 10 Biggest South Indian Opening Day Grossers At The Hindi Box Office Rank Film Title Original Language Day 1 Hindi Net 1.Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024)Telugu₹ 70.30 Cr 2.KGF: Chapter 2 (2022)Kannada₹ 53.95 Cr 3.Baahubali - The Conclusion (2017)Telugu₹ 41.00 Cr 4.Saaho (2019)Telugu₹ 24.40 Cr 5.Kalki 2898 AD (2024)Telugu₹ 22.50 Cr 6.RRR (2022)Telugu₹ 20.07 Cr 7.2.0 (2018)Tamil₹ 19.50 Cr 8.Kantara Chapter 1 (2025)Kannada₹ 18.50 Cr 9.Salaar Ceasefire (2023)Telugu₹ 15.75 Cr 10.Devara: Part 1 (2024)Telugu₹ 7.50 Cr 10.Game Changer (2025)Telugu₹ 7.50 Cr Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Bengaluru, October 3 - Hombale Films' period folk action thriller Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 has taken one of the biggest starts for an Indian film at the domestic box office, after grossing an estimated 75 crores on day 1 in all versions. Directed and headlined by Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 is among the top 15 biggest South Indian films and the second-highest Kannada grosser at the domestic box office. The top opening day grosser list is dominated by Telugu films, with Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 - The Rule being the number 1 and only film with 200+ crores opening. Top 10 Biggest South Indian Openers Here Are The Top Biggest South Indian Openers At The Domestic Box Office Rank Film Title Original Language Day 1 India GBOC 1.Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024)Telugu₹ 209.20 Cr 2.RRR (2022)Telugu₹ 156.00 Cr 3.Baahubali - The Conclusion (2017)Telugu₹ 152.00 Cr 4.KGF: Chapter 2 (2022)Kannada₹ 134.50 Cr 5.Kalki 2898 AD (2024)Telugu₹ 114.00 Cr 6.Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire (2023)Telugu₹ 107.10 Cr 7.Saaho (2019)Telugu₹ 105.00 Cr 8.Adipurush (2023)Hindi/Telugu₹ 102.50 Cr 9.They Call Him OG (2025)Telugu₹ 101.50 Cr 10.Devara Part 1 (2024)Telugu₹ 98.00 Cr 11.Coolie (2025)Tamil₹ 77.00 Cr 12.2 Point 0 (2018)Tamil₹ 76.60 Cr 13.Leo (2023)Tamil₹ 76.20 Cr 14.Kantara Chapter 1 (2025)Kannada₹ 74.25 Cr Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Bengaluru, October 3 - Kannada superstar Yash, who delivered the all-time biggest Kannada blockbuster - KGF: Chapter 2 with Homble Films, has heaped high praise for the studio's latest blockbuster Kantara Chapter 1, headlined and directed by Rishab Shetty. The prequel to 2022's blockbuster has opened to big numbers at the box office and is set for a solid opening weekend. Yash has called Kantara 2 a "benchmark for Kannada and Indian cinema", while lauding the efforts of Shetty and the rest of the team. "Rishab Shetty, your conviction, resilience, and sheer devotion are evident in every frame. As the writer, director, and actor, your vision translates into a truly immersive experience on screen—heartfelt congratulations to Vijay Kiragandur, sir and Hombale Films. Your vision and unwavering support for ambitious projects continually raise the industry's bar", the actor said. Kantara Chapter 1: The New Benchmark for Kannada and Indian Cinema. @shetty_rishab , your conviction, resilience, and sheer devotion are evident in every frame. As the writer, director, and actor, your vision translates into a truly immersive experience on screen.Heartfelt…— Yash (@TheNameIsYash) October 3, 2025 Set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the film explores the ancient roots of the Bhuta Kola ritual and the mythological lore and history explored in the first film released in 2022. Being a prequel, it delves deeper into the origins of the mythological tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first film. Stay tuned...