Kantara Chapter 1 Review: A Thrilling Mythological Saga Laden with Astonishing Legends

Kantara Chapter 1 Review By Shantiswaroop Tripathi

• Rating: 4 Stars
• Producers: Vijay Kiragandur, Chaluve Gowda
• Writer: Rishab Shetty
• Director: Rishab Shetty
• Cast: Rishab Shetty, Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojari, Prakash Thuminad, Deepak Rai Panaje, Hariprasad M.G., Shanil Gautam, Naveen Bondel, and others.
• Duration: 2 hours 48 minutes

Produced by Hombale Films, Rishab Shetty ’s Kantara (2022) was an action-packed, emotional, and adventurous film. Now, on October 2, Kantara Chapter One has released—not a sequel, but a prequel to the 2022 film. This story delves into the origins of the mythological traditions and ancestral conflicts shown in the first installment. It is a cinematic blend of ancient folklore, the Bhoota Kola ritual, spirituality, and breathtaking action, narrating the saga of humanity’s relationship with nature and divinity.

The filmmaker intricately weaves together themes of human nature, greed, selfishness, hunger for power, feminine ambition, deception, oppression, resistance, and interpersonal bonds with mythological legends, keeping the audience glued to the screen.

Kantara Chapter 1 story: Kadamba dynasty and chaos

Set during the Kadamba dynasty, the tale traces the ancestry of Kadubettu Shiva when a child asks, “Where did my father suddenly vanish?” The story begins with the tyranny of King Vijeyendra (Jayaram) of Banjara, who treats his subjects worse than slaves, whipping them for even the smallest mistakes.

King Vijeyendra once attempted to invade Kantara’s forest but failed, angering the village deity Panjoorli. He had two children—Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) and Kanakavathi (Rukmini Vasanth)—both frail and weak. At this point, they gain the support of the Kadappa tribes, who, through black magic, cure the prince and princess. The Kadappa tribes use their sorcery to assert dominance over Panjoorli Dev and destroy Kantara, in alliance with the royal family.

Kanakavathi has her own ambitions, while her brother Kulasekhara spends his time drunk with friends. The kingdom also controls a riverside port from which Vijeyendra trades with the Portuguese—selling spices, slaves, and prisoners. Kanakavathi oversees every detail of this port.

Meanwhile, the devotees of Lord Shiva live peacefully in Kantara’s Madhuban. Vijeyendra’s ancestors once tried to seize Madhuban but were stopped by divine intervention. When Kulasekhara comes of age, Vijeyendra crowns him king. Intoxicated by alcohol and power, Kulasekhara again attempts to invade Kantara but fails.

This triggers Berme (Rishab Shetty), Kantara’s protector, to march into the Banjara kingdom with his people, where he meets Kanakavathi. Berme learns a great deal in Banjara and eventually begins trading Kantara’s spices directly with the Portuguese through the port.

However, when Berme and his men attempt to reclaim the forest, they discover that the Kadappa tribes have already occupied it. Thus begins the fierce enmity between Kantara and Kadappa. The Kadappa chief manipulates King Vijeyendra and Kanakavathi against Kantara. Meanwhile, unrest brews within the Banjara kingdom as Kanakavathi and Kulasekhara scheme against each other for the throne.

One day, Kulasekhara poisons his father’s food, rendering him unconscious. Later, in a drunken frenzy, he storms into Kantara, killing villagers and burning their homes. This act angers the divine forces of Kantara, triggering a series of intense events.

Kantara Chapter 1 review: Rishab Shetty’s epic visuals

When reviewing the trailer earlier, we had predicted that this film could shake Bollywood and flood the box office on October 2. After watching it, this prediction has proven entirely true.

The screenplay skillfully incorporates the ancient roots of the Bhoota Kola ritual and numerous myths. Unlike the 2022 film, which faced accusations of promoting superstition, the writer here attempts to avoid such criticism by focusing more on action and presenting it as a period war drama. Still, elements of divine forces and superstition remain. For instance, Berme’s first encounter with the tiger symbolizes divine energy and superstition. Similarly, the rituals Kanakavathi performs with her father before the deity also echo blind faith. However, the film doesn’t try to become overtly religious or temple-like in tone.

The first 20–25 minutes feel slightly sluggish, but post-interval the film races ahead grippingly. With a reported budget of ₹125 crore, the production scale and VFX quality are evident throughout. The visuals are stunning, making it tough for other filmmakers to match.

Rishab Shetty’s direction is visually spectacular—from shooting across real forests to staging sets on 25 acres and integrating high-quality VFX. As both writer and director, Shetty maintains a fine balance between culture, folklore, and action. The film beautifully highlights the connection between nature, forests, and the people who inhabit them. The climax evokes memories of The Lord of the Rings. However, the tiger sequence feels slightly underdeveloped, and Kanakavathi’s horseback scenes are stretched, which could have been trimmed to reduce runtime.

Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score powerfully underlines Shetty’s vision. Cinematographer Arvind S. Kashyap, production designer Banglan, art director Dharani Gangeputra, and costume designer Pragati Shetty deserve credit for elevating the film’s grandeur.

Kantara Chapter 1 cast: Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Shine

As Berme, the young man torn between village traditions and royal ambitions, Rishab Shetty delivers a phenomenal performance. His agility in action scenes is impressive, while his vulnerability shines in emotional moments. He even leaves a mark as a mystical Naga Sadhu. His screen presence is magnetic, especially in sequences where Guliga possesses him, and later when Chamundi takes over in the climax—both are brilliantly enacted.

Rukmini Vasanth, as Princess Kanakavathi, looks stunning and mesmerizes in her action sequences. Without resorting to exaggeration, she embodies Kanakavathi with full conviction.

Gulshan Devaiah’s performance as Kulasekhara is adequate, though he doesn’t fully unleash his potential in this role. Jayaram, as King Vijeyendra, delivers a strong and convincing portrayal.

FAQs

Q1. Is 'Kantara Chapter One' a sequel or a prequel to the previous film?

A1. This is not a sequel to the previous film but a prequel, taking the story back several years.

Q2. When is the story of the prequel set?

A2. The story dates back to the time of the Kadamba dynasty, before 1847.

Q3.Who is the main villain?

A3. Banjara's king Kulasekhar (Gulshan Devaiah) is the main villain.

Q4. What does the character of Berme do?

A4. Berme (Rishabh Shetty) protects the villagers and is blessed with divine powers.

Q5. What are the major events shown in the trailer?

A5. The trailer gives glimpses of tigers in the jungle, the deity Panjuri, foreign trade through the port, meteorite fall, and the divine powers of Berme.

Q6. Which characters are in the love story between?

A6. The love story could be between Berme and Banjara princess Kanakavati (Rukmani Vasant).

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