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Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) - A Massive Win for Meaningful Kannada Cinema
- Yadav B V
- Oct 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 17
Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) movie is a labor of love and of utmost devotion made by Rishab Shetty, who expresses his faith in God in this movie and the last as well. This is one of the few movies, along with Kantara, Ratnan Prapancha, and Aachar & Co., that I can proudly recommend to my friends. Read on to find out why.
The Plot
In the Jungle, there is the enchanted and holy land of Kantara that is guarded by a demon ( Brahmarakshasa ). There lives a tribe that is in harmony with nature. When unlikely events transpire, a conflict arises between the kingdom of Bangra and the tribe of Kantara, affecting both peoples equally.
This movie touches upon the central tenet of Dharma in Hinduism and how God sends down their prophets and descends Themself to restore the balance between good and evil in the world.
The movie is way too tightly packed with authentic dialogue, story, and technical aspects for even a trained movie critic to grasp all the elements in one watch. Now, that's saying something! There is authentic old Kannada and Tulu dialogue, the whole movie is showered with complex symbolism ( as in layered, I don't mean hard to understand )
Cast of Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025)
Rishab Shetty has recast most of the actors from the first movie, and it is pretty awesome, with people expecting similar character traits from the first movie ( but definitely not identical ).
There are several visual references to the previous movie, which would be lost on viewers who watch this movie before watching the earlier one. They will also unfold further metaphors when you watch these movies in order.
The female lead looks stunning and acts well, but honestly I was too busy noticing the background details throughout the movie and missed her acting almost entirely. Gulshan Devaiah as Kulashekara's acting, however, was fantastic and hard to ignore - he makes an excellent antagonist!
I don't really have to talk about the veteran actor Jayaram Subramaniam, as he offers up an effortless performance that greatly adds to the movie.
The set pieces and shot locations are gorgeous, and I especially like most of the shots in dense jungles, which remind me of my trips to the JLR at B R Hills and southern forests in general.
Symbolism and Authentic Detail
What blew me away was the incredible detail in the religious ritual performed in the movie. I know because I have witnessed it many times without understanding much, but still grasping the feeling behind what was being done. The instruments played during these scenes of holy ritual are done with great care and love, and it comes across clearly.
Shetty has included realistic details such as bird calls, which tribals use to hunt across the world ( which obviously vary according to the region ). He also uses historical references that enrich the story further. There is also a scene where he listens to the ground to find out whats happening in the tribe.
Rishab Shetty presents to us the Holy Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, along with Shri Chamudeshwari (Durga Maa), in a detailed manner that is both entertaining and informative, drawing significant parallels to other religions as well.
Of course, anyone will be able to tell that Rishab Shetty's look in the movie pays homage to the Avatar of Vishnu, ( the Preserver and Protector) Lord Parashuram, the Warrior Saint.
There might be a scene similar to "Hulk Smash" in this movie, where an Avatar of God tags in to destroy evil people doing evil things. Also, there is a depiction of witchcraft in the movie that somehow reminds me of Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. This is based on real dark practices that are probably still used for nefarious purposes.
Shetty addresses broad themes of slavery, man's ravaging of Mother Nature, the class system, and the gradual erasure of Tribal culture. Most importantly, India's riches that were pillaged by rule after rule, empire after empire including the forced spice trade with the East India Company.
Update Based on Second Watch
Went to watch this amazing movie for a second time with a friend as the story was denser than usual - but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Why you say? Cos elements of the story did not fit into a cohesive plot and added unwanted complexity.
There is a tribe in Kantara and a Kingdom in Bangada. Within both societies there are societal rifts such as the young and the old in the tribe and the upper, middle and ruling class and slaves in Bangada. This was already more than enough to mirror our society today and THEN some.
But this is where Rishab Shetty goes overboard ( ruining my chances of ever working with him now ) by introducing another tribe within Kantara with dark motives.
There are magical Thatha's ( grandpas ) that my friend and I referred to as positive thata and negative thatha whose purpose I still don't understand except to add more unwanted plot complexity.
The Brahmarakshasa may or may not be Nandi, the loyal transport of Lord Shiva. He is unrecognizable in the movie.
The Tiger does not seem to fit into the story at all except at the end where it is revealed to be the holy vehicle of Shri Chamundeshwari.
Guliga and Panjurli seem to be one of the Avataras of Lord Vishnu that just adds to the confusion, not fitting into the larger narrative of the story. The divine communication between the deities is confusing at times and once again needlessly complicated.
The Heroine ( Rukmini Vasanth ) seems to be one of the main antagonists and delivers the most anaemic performance with wooden expressions all the way. This adds to how disconnected the story gets and feels.
Despite my friend explaining what everything meant in the plot individually, he could not seem to explain the larger narrative just like me after a second watch of this movie.
All this being said, I wouldn't think twice before working with Rishab Shetty in any capacity, as he has put Kannada cinema on the map that no other film has done in a long time.
Should You Watch It? Most Definitely!
Could the story have been more tight-knit? Yes, most definitely. But this movie doesn't seem to be a cohesive story, but an attempt to showcase what Kannada cinema is capable of - in this respect, it has been a massive success, while still being way more meaningful than your run-of-the-mill mass blockbuster.
The first act sees lots of jokes making you crack up every few minutes at least, and the second act goes a bit dark and packs a lot of action. By the third act, it is intense action, and acting with sparing jokes but loads of symbolism. By the end of the movie, you feel like you have watched at least three separate movies given the lengthy plot and execution, but you will not be bored, and your time will be well spent.
