Kantara Chapter 1 Review: No match to the original but engages in final act

What’s it about?

A young boy wanders into the dense forest and asks the village elders whether his father vanished there, and what became of the well into which he supposedly fell. In response, an elder begins recounting the lore of their ancestors and the many mystical events tied to the land, and thus the tale of “Kantara: Chapter 1” unfolds.

In Kantara, a region of impenetrable forests and ancient tribes, a child once fell into a deep, well-like pit and was miraculously saved by a tiger. The tribespeople took him in and raised him as their own. He grew into Berme (Rishab Shetty), a formidable and skilled leader of the tribe.

Berme turns his gaze to Bunder Port, the hub of spice trade and commerce. Convinced that the forest’s bounty can bring prosperity to his people, he seeks official sanction from King Vijayendra (Jayaram), his son Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah), or Princess Kanakavathi (Rukmini Vasanth).

When Berme arrives at the port, he saves Kanakavathi from a mishap, and she is immediately drawn to him. Kulasekhara, stung by both jealousy and insecurity, resents Kanakavathi. When the king deems him unfit to rule, Kulasekhara resolves to prove his dominance by subjugating the Kantara tribe and trespassing into their sacred lands. In his ruthless pursuit, he kills Burme’s mother.

This tragedy awakens the divine fury within Berme: a confluence of deities that possess him. Yet instead of succumbing to vengeance, he vows to restore dharma and lead his people with righteousness. But as betrayal surfaces and his tribe faces annihilation, Berme realizes he must summon the full measure of the divine force that resides in him.

Analysis

“Kantara Chapter 1,” written, directed, and headlined by Rishab Shetty, serves as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster “Kantara.” The original film, rooted in the Bhuta Kola tradition of Coastal Karnataka and layered with mythic overtones, struck a chord with pan-Indian audiences. This instalment attempts to travel further back, exploring the origins of the region and its ancestral legacy.

In terms of plot, “Kantara Chapter 1” offers very little. The narrative functions more as a cultural excavation than a story-driven film, focusing on the roots of Bhuta Kola, tribal customs, and the ethos of the land. The first part fascinated viewers by revealing a relatively unfamiliar world and blending folklore with mysticism. This prequel tries to dig deeper into that soil. However, in the process of expanding the scale, Rishab Shetty ventures into territory that feels more imitative than inspired. The large war sequences evoke “Baahubali,” and the tiger episode brings “RRR” to mind, but neither leaves the intended impact.

The first half suffers significantly. The comedy aimed at local sensibilities fails to register with non-Kannada audiences and ends up stalling the narrative. The jokes fall flat and, at times, feel like filler. Yet, Rishab Shetty once again proves he understands the power of a well-timed interval block, and the interval sequence does manage to jolt the film back to life.

His biggest strength remains his timing in the final act. As in the original, he reserves his best cards for the last stretch. The second half is undoubtedly stronger than the first, though it still grapples with lags and unwanted comedy. Even so, a clever twist at a crucial moment pulls the viewer back in and sustains interest until the end.

If you ask whether I enjoyed this film more than the original, the answer is a clear no. Despite its grand scale, “Kantara Chapter 1” falls short of the original, both in terms of storytelling and in delivering that sense of awe. In fact, there were several stretches in this prequel where I found myself genuinely bored.

Rishab Shetty, unlike in the original, does not don the full-fledged “Bhuta Kola” guise or perform its hypnotic dance. Instead, he explores the divine dimension through multiple avatars, appearing as a vessel for various deities, as a gana of Lord Shiva, and even manifesting a goddess-like presence. For the most part, he remains a tribal warrior. The range of looks reflects his effort, but performance-wise, he never matches the magic of the first film, which won him the National Award.

Here, his acting feels like a derivative extension of that performance. In one particular episode, his avatar falls notably flat, especially when compared to what Allu Arjun pulled off in “Pushpa 2” in a similar tonal space. Still, Rishab redeems himself to an extent with a compelling turn in the climax.

Rukmini Vasanth initially seems like another stock princess falling for a commoner, but as the narrative deepens, both her character and her performance rise above the trope. She leaves a strong impression in the final act and emerges as the film’s biggest surprise. Jayaram is excellent as the weary king. Gulshan Devaiah, however, is let down by a poorly written role, and his performance remains flat.

Riding on the phenomenal success of “Kantara,” Rishab Shetty scales up the world as a director with a bigger canvas, richer frames, and upgraded production values. The visuals are lush, and the CG work is fairly effective. The tiger sequences do not entirely convince, but many other visual elements work well. Arvind S. Kashyap’s cinematography shines in the forest stretches and action blocks. Ajaneesh Loknath, who powered the original with “Varaha Roopam,” delivers a solid score this time too. Although the iconic track is barely used due to copyright issues, the background score still elevates several moments.

The production design and artwork are robust, lending texture and authenticity to the world. But the editing is a serious drawback. The film slips into monotony multiple times in both halves, and the ill-timed comedy in crucial stretches tests patience. A good 20 minutes could have easily been trimmed.

Bottom-line: “Kantara Chapter 1” suffers from a dull first half, but redeems itself in the latter portions with gripping final moments. Though it lacks the ‘wow’ factor of the original ‘Kantara,” it remains a decent watch thanks to its grand production design, rich visuals, and impactful ending.

Rating: 2.75/5

By Jalapathy Gudelli

Movie: Kantara Chapter 1
Cast: Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah, and others
Music: B. Ajaneesh Loknath
DOP: Arvind S. Kashyap
Editor: Suresh Mallaiah
Production Designer: Banglan
Produced by: Vijay Kiragandur
Written and Directed by: Rishab Shetty
Release Date: October 2, 2025