Kannada blockbuster Kantara, starring and directed by Rishab Shetty is a supernatural thriller that is based on the folklore of Bhoota Kola, a ritualistic performance* in coastal Karnataka. The movie which also released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi has turned out to be a massive box office hit, eyeing Rs 400 crore in worldwide gross collections.
*Bhoota Kola a ritual performance where a person temporarily becomes the local spirit/deity that is being worshipped. This performer is believed to have God descended on him and hence is treated as one.
Kantara's digital premiere was expected on Amazon Prime Video on November 18, 2022 i.e. tomorrow but latest we hear the OTT release of the movie has been postponed to November 24, 2022 i.e. next Thursday. Kantara's business currently stands at Rs 369 Cr. and the delay in the film's digital premiere is rumoured be because of everyone rooting for the film to join the Rs. 400 Cr. club.
However the actual reason seems to be the Varaha Roopam plagiarism row, in which Amazon Prime Video was injuncted by a Kerala district and sessions court to seek permission from the band Thaikkudam Bridge before streaming the movie along with the song. Varaha Roopam composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath has been accused of being a copy of Thaikkudam Bridge's 5 year old song Navarasam.