Movie Title: Kantara: Chapter 1
Director: Rishab Shetty
Casting: Rishab Shetty,Rukmini Vasanth,Jayaram,Gulshan Devaiah,Rakesh Poojary,Pramod Shetty,Prakash Thuminad, Deepak Rai Panaje, Hariprashanth M G , Shaneel Gautham.
Writers : Rishab Shetty, Anirudh Mahesh, Shanil Guru
Producers : Vijay Kiragandur, Chaluve Gowda Cinematography: Arvind S. Kashyap
Editor: Suresh Mallaiah
Music Composer : B. Ajaneesh Loknath
Production House : Hombale Films
Filmycycle Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Kantara: Chapter 1: Meets sky high expectations (3/5)
Kantara Chapter 1, the prequel to the blockbuster 2022 released, Kantara has hit the screens on October 2nd, 2025. Let’s Review it.
Synopsis:
Kantara: Chapter 1 explores the origins of the mystical Kantara land, focusing on the clash between a native tribe and the Bangra kingdom. After Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) ascends as the ruler of Bangra, tensions brew as Berme (Rishab Shetty), the leader of the Kantara tribe, rises to protect his people and their traditions. In a daring move, Berme and his men infiltrate Bangra, setting the stage for an intense confrontation between the kingdom’s power and the tribe’s spirit.
Performances:
Rishab Shetty stands as the undeniable backbone of Kantara 1. While his directorial vision is impressive, it’s the performer in him that takes center stage, reaffirming why he’s a National Award winner. His intensity in the divine possession and trance sequences reflects the sheer brilliance of his craft and leaves a lasting impression.
On the other hand, Rukmini Vasanth emerges as the film’s biggest revelation. Far from being confined to a conventional love interest, her character grows in significance, especially as the story moves towards its peak. She delivers with conviction, adding weight to the climax and ensuring her presence is felt strongly. Other supporting artists gave their best in the limited screen time.
Analysis:
The first half of the film has its share of engaging moments, but the extended focus on character introductions and world-building slows down the momentum. The pacing falters at several points, with certain stretches feeling unnecessarily prolonged, and tighter editing could have elevated the overall experience.
Though Gulshan Devaiah is a capable performer, his role lacks the desired impact and could have been crafted with more depth. The writing, on the other hand, shows immense effort—touching upon tribes, deities, the barter system, and cultural nuances. Yet, the sheer volume of details squeezed into limited scenes makes some portions feel hurried.Ironically, while a few scenes drag beyond necessity, others that deserved more breathing space feel rushed. A more balanced approach would have allowed the film to fully reflect the richness of the research that went into it.
The interval sequence and the grand climax, packed with divine elements, are bound to leave the audience in awe. Rishab Shetty not only pushed the scale with the budget but also expanded his creative vision, delivering a finale that feels nothing short of electrifying.The action blocks stand out as major highlights, with the chariot chase in the first half being a brilliantly executed set piece, enhanced by impressive visual effects. A few comedic moments click well, providing relief amidst the intensity. Jayaram lends solid support with a performance that fits the narrative.
Technical Department:
Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score adds solid impact, though it tends to get overpowering in a few places. The songs, meanwhile, are fairly average.
On the technical front, Arvind S. Kashyap’s cinematography shines, especially in the action sequences, which are captured with striking finesse. The lavish production values are evident throughout, with every frame reflecting the scale of investment.
As a director, Rishab Shetty delivers a competent effort, but it’s his powerhouse performance and his ambitious vision to present this folklore on a grand canvas that truly elevate the film. These elements together make the overall experience both fulfilling and memorable.
Verdict:
Altogether, Kantara Chapter 1 is an engaging action drama that delivers plenty of goosebump-worthy moments. The film impresses most with its gripping interval block, powerful climax, divine touches, breathtaking visuals, and stellar VFX. Rishab Shetty is phenomenal in his role, while Rukmini Vasanth shines in a well-etched character that adds weight to the narrative.
On the downside, the film suffers from uneven pacing, with certain portions stretched out and some sequences overcrowded with information. Even so, the technical finesse and sheer cinematic scale make Kantara: Chapter 1 a compelling big-screen experience.
