Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is Rishab Shetty’s ambitious prequel to the 2022 cultural phenomenon, Kantara. Set 1,500 years ago during the Kadamba dynasty, this film delves into the origins of the land, the Daivas (holy spirits), and the spiritual beliefs of the Tulunadu people. The central conflict revolves around Berme (Rishab Shetty), a tribal man fighting for the Eshwarana Hoothota (God’s Garden) in the sacred Kantara forest against the encroaching greed and wounded prestige of the Bangra royalty. The film’s core theme of a marginalized community revolting for their rights is mounted on a gigantic scale, making its technically potent predecessor feel “tiny” by comparison. This commitment to spectacle is both the film’s greatest strength and its primary weakness.
Direction and Technical Perspective
Director Rishab Shetty, co-writing with Anirudh Mahesh and Shanil Gowtham, aims for a religious-themed mega-production and largely achieves it with go-for-broke filmmaking. Cinematography (Arvind Kashyap): Kashyap’s work is pivotal, delivering grand, creative shots that offer the experience of watching a compelling war drama. He subtly uses the camera to reflect the conflict: the palatial royal quarters are filmed at close range, feeling cramped, while the Kantara forests are sprawling, grimy, and given room to breathe. The visuals are a major achievement, filled with scenes designed to be unforgettable spectacles.
Production Design and VFX
The sets, costumes, and makeup are meticulously crafted to evoke the native world of the Kadamba era, making the film feel genuinely rooted in culture. The top-class CGI-laden scenes, particularly the stunning visuals of grand tigers and Berme’s connection to them are used effectively to enhance the mythology.
Action Choreography
The action sequences, staged by Arjun Master and Todor Lazarov, are stunning, blending primal energy with spectacle. The audacious chariot sequence is described as jaw-dropping, showcasing a masterclass in staging and making the battles resonate visually and audibly.However, the pursuit of bigness comes at the cost of narrative depth. The uneven first act is intriguing due to the solid world-building, but the film spends so much time chasing spectacle that it often forgets to slow down and allow the audience to process the emotional core. Crucial backstories about Berme’s origins, slavery, and untouchability are reduced to mere images, leaving the script “slightly empty on the inside” despite the commitment to scale.
Acting
The performances are strong, with Rishab Shetty’s dual role as actor and director dominating the screen. Rishab Shetty (Berme): Shetty’s aura witnessed in the first part remains intact. His portrayal of Berme is complex and layered, torn between worldly struggle and divine undertones. His depiction of divine possession and the ferocious power of a deity is brilliant and respectful of the Tulu folk tradition. Rukmini Vasanth (Kanakavathi): She stands out with her poise and subtle strength, becoming one of the story’s unexpected anchors. She delivers strong dialogue and makes her presence felt, even if her role is less pervasive than some might wish.Gulshan Devaiah (King Kulashekara): Devaiah is superb, embodying the arrogant prince who inherits the throne but not his father’s wisdom. However, the script gives him a somewhat typical antagonist role, lacking the complexity that would make him an equal and compelling contender to Berme.Jayaram (King Rajashekara): He convincingly carries the weight of kingship and curses, providing a sense of weary wisdom.Supporting actors like Mangala (as Berme’s mother) give a moving performance, and Prakash Thuminad provides comic relief, though the humor is occasionally noted as out of place amidst the serious drama.
Music
Ajaneesh Loknath’s music, background score, and sound design are integral to the film’s immersive atmosphere. The score moves seamlessly with the film’s flow, incorporating tribal signals, chants, and rhythmic percussion.The “Brahmakalasha” song masterfully hits the zenith of underlying tension between the tribals and royals.The “Rebel” song delivers a rousing battle theme, contributing significantly to the high dose of adrenaline throughout the action sequences.
The strong musical identity, characterized by its intense percussions and chants, effectively grounds the movie in the mythology and elevates the sequences of ritual and conflict.
Verdict
Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is an ambitious origin myth that shines more in its spectacular scope than in the emotional depth of its writing. It successfully delivers a high-on-entertainment experience, with breathtaking action and a vibrant, culturally rich world that feels like folklore shared around a fire. However, the expansive narrative sometimes drags (editing could be tighter) and the emotional undercurrent of the tribal community’s struggle gets slightly lost amidst the grandeur. While the finale is gripping and explores the roots of the daivas and myths without oversimplification, it may not reach the unforgettable, singular intensity of the divine possession climax in the original. Ultimately, the film is a mesmerizing visual ritual—a must-watch for its technical ambition—but one that leaves the viewer wondering if the pursuit of pan-Indian spectacle sacrificed the raw, intimate soul that made Kantara an unforgettable classic. The stage is set for future chapters, carrying the pulse of the soil and the echo of myth.