As
‘Kantara:
A
Legend
Chapter-
1
‘continues
its
remarkable
run
at
the
box
office,
conversations
are
growing
around
a
major
shift
in
audience
preferences.
Viewers
today
seem
to
be
moving
away
from
glossy
urban
tales
to
embrace
stories
that
celebrate
India’s
cultural
and
spiritual
roots.
Trade
analysts
report
that
the
film
has
earned
nearly
Rs
600
crore
in
India
within
29
days.
Its
success
story
does
not
stop
there.
Along
with
a
Spanish
version
and
a
strong
response
overseas,
it
has
also
become
the
highest-grossing
Indian
film
in
Australia.
This
underlines
how
films
deeply
connected
to
Indian
traditions,
when
introduced
in
international
languages
and
new
territories,
can
expand
their
reach
across
borders.
Industry
experts
see
the
extraordinary
success
of
films
like
‘Kantara
2’ as
a
turning
point
for
Indian
cinema,
reaffirming
the
global
appeal
of
stories
rooted
in
culture.
“Audiences
today
are
clearly
evolving
in
their
choices.
While
they
still
enjoy
contemporary
stories,
they
are
also
drawn
to
narratives
that
are
more
local
and
culturally
rich.
Take
the
vibrant
South
Indian
ritualistic
traditions
portrayed
in
‘Kantara’
and
the
hit
series,
‘Suzhal
–
The
Vortex’
that
have
naturally
sparked
curiosity
among
audiences
everywhere.
There
is
still
so
much
more
waiting
to
be
explored
in
every
region,” says
veteran
producer
Anand
Pandit.
He
emphasised
that
multilingual
Indian
stories
can
attract
global
attention.
While
regional
and
Hindi
film
industries
have
sometimes
shared
talent,
a
language
barrier
previously
kept
audiences
separated.
Today,
as
that
divide
fades,
films
rooted
in
tradition
are
gaining
recognition.
“Our
nation,
culture,
and
heritage
are
our
pride,
and
we
should
celebrate
them
globally,” adds
Pandit.
He
also
cited
the
rise
of
OTT
platforms
as
a
positive
development
that
has
enabled
regional
Indian
films
to
reach
a
global
audience.
“Of
course,
OTT
platforms
have
played
a
major
role
in
breaking
language
barriers.
Viewers
around
the
world
are
now
discovering
and
enjoying
compelling
stories
from
across
India.
It
would
be
wonderful
if
we
continue
to
explore
this
creative
space
and
strengthen
our
traditional
storytelling
further,”
concludes
Pandit.