Kantara: Rishab Shetty's 'divine blockbuster' records highest footfalls for Hombale Films in Karnataka

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara has been breaking a lot of records since its theatrical release on September 30. Within days of its release, it became the highest grossing Kannada film in north India and the USA, and is steadily heading towards the Rs 200 crore mark in collections. There is just no stopping the film, as it continues to go strong in its fourth week.

Today, the film added another feather to its illustrious hat. With 24 days at the box office, Kantara has become the most viewed film for Hombale Films, the banner that produced Rishab’s film. This is a commendable feat, considering that Hombale Films also produced Rocking Star Yash’s KGF1 and KGF2. It is being estimated that Kantara has recorded a whopping 77 lakh footfalls, which is much higher than that recorded for either KGF1 or KGF2. Despite this number, the film’s box office collection is way below that of both KGF movies, because it was not released with hiked ticket pricing.

Meanwhile, the film is also enroute to demolishing the record held by KGF: Chapter 2 for highest collection in Karnataka. KGF2 reportedly collected Rs 164 crore in Karnataka, a figure that Kantara is tantalizingly close to covering.

Kantara is still far behind the numbers of Ganesh’s Mungaru Male, which recorded over 1 crore footfalls, while some of late matinee idol Dr Rajkumar’s films are believed to have had over 3 crore footfalls. This, of course, includes repeat viewers also. KGF1 and KGF2 had recorded 75 lakh and 72 lakh respectively. Raajakumara, which was also a Hombale Films production, had recorded 65 lakh footfalls. At the current rate, Kantara is expected to breach the 1 crore footfall mark shortly. The film is also expected to become the highest grossing Kannada film of the banner.

Rishab Shetty’s film about a man vs man conflict, involved traditional customs and practices followed in Tulunadu, especially Daiva Aradhane. The last 30 minutes of the film are what have captured the imagination of the nation, with pretty much every one who has seen it, showering it with praise.