Kantara Chapter 1 Review: Rishab Shetty Leans on Mystical Magic, Irrational Beliefs Over Logic
Performances are a mixed bag. Rishab Shetty, as always, impresses with his emotional range and mystical presence, but the character lacks freshness.
Cast: Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah and others
Director: Rishab Shetty
Rating: 2/5 stars
After the phenomenal success of Kantara, where Rishab Shetty seamlessly blended a relatable story with a divine layer, expectations from its prequel, Kantara Chapter 1, were sky-high. Unfortunately, Shetty seems over-ambitious this time, diluting the narrative with irrational beliefs and exaggerated mystical elements that overshadow logic.
Unlike the original’s clear goal of protecting tribal lands, this film hinges on supernatural notions of animals—a tiger, a horse, and a pig—guiding people and mystical God's Garden. The result feels forced, stretching the suspension of disbelief beyond reason. While Shetty does succeed in creating a new world of tribals, royalty, and folklore, the execution falls short.
The story revolves around the Kadamba dynasty eyeing Eshwarana Hoothota (God’s Garden), a sacred forest space belonging to tribals. What was greed for land in Kantara becomes a matter of royal prestige in the prequel. King Jayaram, whose ego is bruised after being stopped by divine power, bides his time while his son Kulasekhara (a terrific Gulshan Devaiah) tries to capture Kantara. Standing against him is Berme (Rishab Shetty), an eccentric yet fearless tribal warrior. Their clash has promise, but is undermined by misplaced humour and abrupt cuts that hurt the narrative flow.
The first half, in particular, struggles with pacing and coherence, as Shetty rushes through too many plot points. The conflict of good versus evil becomes predictable, while the delayed emergence of Rishab’s supernatural strength weakens the impact which we hailed in the first part..
On the technical side, the film shines. Cinematographer Arvind Loknath paints striking visuals of forests, battles, and rituals, while Anjaneesh Loknath delivers a haunting background score infused with devotional tones. The art department too deserves credit for creating elaborate sets.
Performances are a mixed bag. Rishab Shetty, as always, impresses with his emotional range and mystical presence, but the character lacks freshness. Rukmini Vasanth looks graceful as the princess, though her role is underwritten until a final twist. Jayaram lends dignity to the king’s role, while Gulshan Devaiah nails the menace as the unstable prince.
In the end, Kantara Chapter 1 feels like déjà vu. The goosebumps-inducing moments of the first part are repeated but fail to evoke the same thrill. Sequels often buckle under expectation, and this one is no exception. Rishab Shetty remains a gifted actor-director, but it may be time for him to step away from this franchise unless he can truly rediscover its semi-divine magic.
