Movie Name : Kantara Chapter 1
Release Date : Oct 2, 2025
Cast : Rishab shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah, Pramod Shetty etc.
Director : Rishab Shetty
Music Director : B. Ajaneesh Loknath
Telugumopo.com Rating : 3/5
Story:
The story of Kantara goes on, and it reveals an interesting narrative that starts centuries ago. The villagers narrate the story, as a young boy, following the divine demise of his father, is interested to learn about the history of Kantara. His inquiry leads to a journey through time, to the time when the Bangra kingdom existed close to the mystifying forest of Kantara, with a sacred area called Eshwara’s Garden.
Driven by greed, the Bangra king tried to usurp the treasure buried in Kantara but was killed. This act created a horror story of a Brahma Rakshasa, a mighty devilish being who protects the holy ground, sending shivers down the spines of the people who now do not dare go near. The young son of the king, Rajasekhara (portrayed by Jayaram), escaped the catastrophe narrowly.
Years later, Rajasekhara hands over the kingdom to his son, Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah). However, Kulasekhara shows little interest in ruling and lives a life of indulgence. Meanwhile, in the secluded region of Kantara, the tribal people live isolated from the outside world. Despite warnings, Kulasekhara leads a group of soldiers into the forest for a hunt, but they are killed by the tribe. Forced to retreat, Kulasekhara decides to take action.
Enter Berme (Rishab Shetty), a young and ambitious leader of the tribe, who, with the help of a soldier, ventures out of the forest and enters the kingdom of Bangra. When the tribe’s origins are revealed, fear and suspicion spread through Bangra. The question arises—what will happen when Berme and the people of Kantara confront the outside world?
The journey also brings Kanakavathi (Rukmini Vasanth), a young princess, into the story. How does she cross paths with Berme, and what consequences will follow? Who else will covet the riches of Kantara and Eshwara’s Garden, beyond Rajasekhara and Kulasekhara?
Who exactly is Berme, and how will he protect his land from outsiders? To find out how this intense struggle for survival unfolds, the answers lie in watching this captivating drama on screen.
Review:
Rishab Shetty had already set a benchmark in Kantara, and it looked like no one could beat that. However, he has gone and done the unimaginable by elevating his performance even further. In second half the film is in another level in itself, pulling the audience into an enthralling and gripping ride. The high point of the film is the forest scene in which he reveals his divine form. This scene shows high-level acting skills. Throughout the film, Rishab shows simply remarkable performance and establishes himself as one of the best actors of our time.
Rukmini Vasanth, who previously struggled in her roles, delivers outstanding work in Kantara in her best role ever. This role allows her to reveal new elements of her talent, offering a depth and scope of performance that is arresting and surprising. Her performance lifts the film through a new dimension, making one of the standout performances of her career.
Gulshan Devaiah performs well in his part, but the character did not have the depth that could have brought out his best; therefore Devaiah’s influence is somewhat limited. Jayaram is good too, as the aging king, and has both strength and emotional depth in his performance. The remainder of the supporting cast is also fantastic too, providing depth to the film through their performances, as well as just being there.
The Kantara prequel transports us further into the world’s origins, narrating the story of the divine garden of Eshwara, the Bangra kingdom, and the Bandar Port town folk. The first half of the movie is spent establishing the world, and while it does a decent job of presenting the pieces, the tone is highly comedic, something that does not feel very original. While the historical context is rich, the play takes too long to dwell on humor and romance, which could create the impression of a slow build-up. The actual crux of the story only starts to reveal itself after the interval.
The second half of the film sees it take a more spiritual direction, with intense devotional scenes that raise the stakes. Although the scenes are well-choreographed, the climax and turns are quite predictable. The film does not really deliver much in terms of clarity regarding the hero Berme’s past or his intentions.
The movie does an excellent job of portraying the villagers’ lifestyle, their business, royalty of the kingdom, and the wooded lands. The story is the common one—a ruler’s covet of a peaceful village’s riches and the fight for survival that follows. The movie ends by projecting a good lead for Kantara Chapter 2, with audience members waiting anxiously to see what the next chapter in the story brings.
Kantara: Chapter 1 is technically superior, with each department producing exemplary work. Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score is particularly noteworthy, heightening the drama and emotion, particularly in the second half, where it really propels the story. Although the songs themselves are not the highlight, the background score is crucial in determining the atmosphere of the film. Arvind S Kashyap’s camerawork brings out the best in the story, along with the uncooked brutality of the story. The art team must also be commended for bringing to life a visual treat that enhances the experience. Hombale Films, as usual, has maintained high production standards to make the movie more impactful overall. Rishab Shetty, the writer and director of the movie as well, has worked tirelessly to present this unusual and complicated story in front of an audience.
Overall, Kantara: Chapter 1 is a visually stunning, emotionally charged film with stellar performances, leaving audiences eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the saga.
