How Much Streaming Platforms Paid for Kantara: Chapter 1 Digital Rights

Summary: Amazon Prime Video acquired the digital streaming rights for Kantara: Chapter 1 for a reported ₹125 Crore, making it one of the costliest Kannada OTT deals ever.

Mumbai, November 4, 2025 – The film “Kantara: Chapter 1” has been a major success. It is a big win for Kannada cinema. The prequel, starring and directed by Rishab Shetty, has become one of the highest-grossing Indian movies of the year. This huge popularity led to a massive bidding war for its digital streaming rights.

The amount paid by the streaming platform shows the film’s incredible value. It highlights the growing demand for rooted, original content from South India.

Kantara: Chapter 1 Winning Bid: Platform and Amount

The post-theatrical digital rights for “Kantara: Chapter 1” have been secured by one of the world’s biggest streaming services.

Amazon Prime Video Bags the Deal

• The Streaming Home: Amazon Prime Video has officially purchased the exclusive streaming rights for the film. This means Prime Video subscribers will be the first to watch the movie at home.
• The Massive Price Tag: According to multiple reliable trade reports, the deal was closed for a staggering ₹125 Crore (Rupees One Hundred and Twenty-Five Crore).

A Historic Deal for Kannada Cinema

This deal is a huge milestone for the Kannada film industry, often called Sandalwood.

• Second Biggest OTT Deal: The ₹125 Crore acquisition is reportedly the second-highest OTT deal ever for a film of Kannada origin.
• Only Behind KGF: Chapter 2: It stands right behind K.G.F: Chapter 2. Interestingly, both blockbusters are from the same successful production house, Hombale Films. This shows the enormous power of their brand.

The Bidding War: Why the Price is So High

The huge amount paid is not just a random number. It reflects the massive success and reputation of the Kantara franchise. Streaming platforms see this film as a guaranteed way to bring in new subscribers.

Factors Driving the High Price:

• Pan-India Success: The first Kantara was a huge hit across India. It became popular in all languages. This prequel was expected to repeat that success, making it valuable across all language markets (Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam). Amazon Prime Video has reportedly acquired all language streaming rights.
• Hombale Films’ Reputation: The producers, Hombale Films, are known for making massive blockbusters. Their name itself adds a lot of value.
• Pre-Release Buzz: The hype for Kantara: Chapter 1 was huge, even before its release. This helped the producers get a great price even before the box office numbers were finalized.
• Global Appeal: The film’s story, which is based on local folklore and spiritual traditions, has a unique global appeal. Streaming platforms want such unique content to attract viewers outside India as well.

Comparing the Deals: Kantara vs. Other Blockbusters

🎬 The ₹125 Crore figure puts Kantara: Chapter 1 in a very elite group of Indian films. While specific OTT deal values are often confidential, the reported price shows its top-tier status.

• A Solid Investment: For Amazon Prime Video, this huge investment ensures that the Kantara franchise remains exclusive to their platform. This exclusivity is a big win over rivals like Netflix and JioCinema.

This massive digital deal proves that original, culturally rich cinema can earn huge money on streaming platforms. It is a big boost for regional cinema in the pan-India market.