Kantara

Kantara: Chapter 1, the much-awaited prequel to the blockbuster Kantara, has finally hit the big screens with sky-high expectations. Let’s take a look at whether Rishab Shetty’s vision meets the hype.

Trailer

Story

Kantara: Chapter 1 explores the origins of the Kantara land, focusing on the conflict between a tribal community and the Bangra kingdom. After Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) ascends as the new king of Bangra, the Kantara tribe is led by Berme (Rishab Shetty). Berme and his men secretly enter Bangra, and the rest of the narrative revolves around the ensuing clash between the tribal clan and the kingdom.

Overview

Directed by	Rishab Shetty
Written by	Rishab Shetty
Produced by	Vijay Kiragandur Chaluve Gowda
Starring	Rishab Shetty Jayaram Rukmini Vasanth Gulshan Devaiah
Cinematography	Arvind S. Kashyap
Edited by	Suresh Mallaiah
Music by	B. Ajaneesh Loknath
Production company	Hombale Films
Distributed by	see below
Release date	2 October 2025
Running time	169 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

Review

In terms of technical brilliance, Kantara: Chapter 1 stands among the finest films of recent times. Hombale Films, along with Rishab Shetty, has significantly increased the scale and budget, resulting in a grand visual experience. Every frame is rich and immersive, and the VFX—especially the animal sequences—are extraordinary, deserving immense appreciation.

Rishab Shetty is undoubtedly the driving force of the film. As an actor, he outshines everything else, reaffirming why he’s a National Award-winner. His performance during the divine possession and trance sequences is powerful and showcases his remarkable acting prowess.

Rukmini Vasanth is the unexpected highlight. She isn’t just portrayed as a love interest; her role grows in importance toward the climax. She makes the most of her screen time and significantly elevates the final act.

The interval block and the extended, divinity-laced climax battle are sure to leave audiences thrilled. Rishab Shetty not only expanded the budget but also his creative vision, and the final moments are nothing short of exhilarating.

The action sequences are fantastic. The chariot chase in the first half is especially impressive, executed with top-tier VFX. Some comedic bits work well too. Jayaram performs adequately in his role.

While the first half has some good moments, the film spends too much time on world-building and character setup. The pacing slows down in multiple areas, and several scenes feel unnecessarily stretched. A tighter edit would have made the first half more gripping.

Though Gulshan Devaiah is a talented actor, his role lacks impact and could have been crafted better. The screenplay tries to cover many elements—multiple tribes, different deities, barter systems, and more—but these are packed into very few scenes, making them feel hurried.

Ironically, while some irrelevant scenes drag on, key moments that needed more attention feel rushed. A better balance here would have done justice to the extensive research behind the story.

Technical

Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score works well in several scenes but becomes overpowering at times. The songs are just passable. Arvind S Kashyap’s cinematography is exceptional—especially in the action blocks. The production values are top-notch, with every bit of the budget clearly visible on-screen.

As a director, Rishab Shetty does a decent job, but it’s his sensational performance and ambitious vision of bringing this folklore to life as a grand visual tale that make the film a fulfilling experience.

Conclusion

Overall, Kantara: Chapter 1 is an engaging action drama peppered with several goosebump-worthy moments. The standout interval and climax sequences, divine elements, breathtaking visuals, and stunning VFX make it a theatrical treat. Rishab Shetty is phenomenal, and Rukmini Vasanth delivers an impactful performance in a well-written role. However, the slow pacing, stretched segments, and overpacked sequences with too much information hold it back. Despite these drawbacks, Kantara: Chapter 1 is absolutely worth watching in theatres for its technical mastery.

FAQ

1. Kantara Movie Release Date?

Crew Movie was released on Oct 2, 2025

2.Who directed the movie Kantara?

The movie has been directed by Rishab Shetty.

3.Who is in the cast of Kantara?

Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram

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