New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Actor-director Rishab Shetty’s "Kantara: Chapter 1" has taken the box office by storm, grossing Rs 427.5 crore worldwide within six days of release, the makers said in a statement.
The movie is a prequel to Shetty’s 2022 blockbuster “Kantara”, which became a cultural phenomenon for its rooted storytelling, exploration of folklore and divine traditions of coastal Karnataka, and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of all time.
Released on October 2 in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and English, the movie is produced by Hombale Films.
In a statement, the makers said the film is on track to reach Rs 500 crore in its opening week.
"In just six days, 'Kantara: Chapter 1' has collected a staggering Rs 427.5 crore worldwide, emerging as a global phenomenon. With such an extraordinary pace, the film is expected to touch the Rs 500 crore mark within a week and is steadily inching closer to the historic Rs 1000 crore milestone.
"The strong word-of-mouth, glowing reviews, and massive buzz across social media are all working in the film’s favour," the makers said.
Set in pre-colonial Karnataka during the reign of the Kadambas from Banavasi, “Kantara: Chapter 1” depicts the conflict between the tribals of the Kantara forest and a tyrannical king.
Shetty, who directed, wrote and headlined the prequel, had earlier won the National Film Award for Best Actor as well as Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for “Kantara”.
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Panaji (PTI) Three senior officials of the Goa government, including the then Director of Panchayat, were suspended on Sunday in connection with the nightclub fire tragedy for their role in allowing the facility to start operations in 2023, a senior officer said.
A massive fire tore through the nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, claiming 25 lives, including five tourists and 20 staff members.
The suspended officials include Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, who was then Director of Panchayat, Dr Shamila Monteiro, who was then Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and Raghuvir Bagkar, then Secretary of Village Panchayat Arpora-Nagoa.
They are held responsible for giving permission to 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub at Arpora to start its operations in 2023, a senior officer said.
Police questioned Roshan Redkar, the sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa Panchayat, who had issued a trade licence to the club.
