Kantara Chapter 1: Fan dresses as Daiva and roams in theatre during Dindigul screening of Rishab Shetty's film, WATCH

Kantara screening visuals

Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 shows no sign of stopping at the box office. Audiences across India are flocking to theatres in large numbers to witness this cinematic spectacle. Amid the film's release, videos of excited audiences going wild have surfaced on social media. Now, a video has emerged showing a fan dressed as a Daiva entering a theatre in Tamil Nadu.

Fan dresses as Daiva during Kantara screening

During a recent screening in Dindigul, a fan attracted attention by appearing in a costume modelled on the Panjurli deity, Daiva. It captivated the audience, who quickly recorded the visuals and uploaded them on social media. The incident happened days after a fan in Bengaluru acted possessed outside the theatre after watching the film. The frenzy was not limited to cinema halls - after watching the film, a fan was seen mimicking Shetty's possessed character outside the theatre.

Netizens' reaction

Fans have shared their reactions to the video. While some were stunned, a section of the audience expressed concern over what they considered disrespect toward folklore. "After the screening of Kantara Chapter 1 in Dindigul UmaaRajendra, a fan dressed as a Daiva stunned the audience there. Goosebumps," one wrote. Another shared, "This happened in Dindigul. TN people are going crazy for Kantara Chapter 1."

Some social media users called out the gesture, with one commenting, "This is very wrong. I know people are excited and want publicity, but please don't do this. For us Tuluvas, these are sacred and core to our life. Please, please don't do such things."

About Kantara

Written and directed by Shetty, the film released in theatres on Thursday, October 2, in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and English. Apart from Rishab, the film also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah in key roles. Set against the backdrop of the Kadamba dynasty, the film delves into ancient rituals, prominently featuring the Buta Kola ceremony.

The Kannada film is a prequel to the 2022 sleeper hit Kantara. Talking about its box office, so far, the film has earned over Rs 150 crore domestically, shattering several records. It has trailed Varun Dhawan's and Janhvi Kapoor's Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.