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Kantara Review: Insanely Entertaining, Propelled By Rishab Shetty's Blindingly Good Star Turn

Kantara review: a heady blend of history, myth, folklore, high drama and stylishly choreographed action neatly wrapped in a form firmly rooted in the cultural milieu it has sprung from..

A still from Kantara trailer. (courtesy: HombaleFilms )

Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda

Director: Rishab Shetty

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

A visually sumptuous, instantly immersive spectacle mounted with extraordinary vim and vigour, writer-director-actor Rishab Shetty's Kannada-language Kantara , now on nationwide release in Hindi and other languages, is a heady blend of history, myth, folklore, high drama and stylishly choreographed action neatly wrapped in a form firmly rooted in the cultural milieu it has sprung from.

Shetty is also the writer and lead actor of the film. As screenwriter, his output is probably just a touch shy of being perfect, but the script has enough heft and vibrancy to translate into a mass entertainer that is visceral, rousing and unwaveringly riveting.

A wide array of things makes Kantara the incredible film that it is, but the most prominent of all are the on-screen performers led admirably well by Shetty. He packs a punch that sends us reeling and continues to reverberate long after the film has run its course.

The film kicks off at scorching pace. The introduction of a divine spirit that watches over the forest and a stirring Kambala buffalo race within the first 15 minutes or so of the film set the tone. Getting accustomed to the sensory overload takes a while. However, once the two-and-a-half-hour film's design - both visual and aural - reveals itself in all its splendour, everything falls into place and draws the audience into the spellbinding Kantara (literally, mystical forest) universe.

The potent drama focuses on the fraught power dynamics, social and divine, that have forever been at play in a coastal Karnataka village where a seemingly benign feudal lord wields unlimited, unquestioned authority over the people. He decides what is good for the villagers. The latter go along.

It isn't servility that underpins the relationship between the master and his serfs. The key is loyalty. It has been built over decades of what feels like benevolence but may not be what it appears to be. Also central to the plot of Kantara is a conflict that arises from threats posed to the rights of forest dwellers over the swathes of land that have been their home for centuries.

In the lead role, Shetty brings dizzying energy to bear upon his performance as the buffalo race champion Shiva, a fiery young rebel with a cause. The young man has to contend with demons of his own mind - recurring nightmares in which he sees visions of the reigning deity in a wrathful avatar drive him to the edge of despair and a constant need to give vent to his rising ire.

His impulsive response to provocations put him on a collision course with the powers that be and his own mother, Kamala (Manasi Sudhir). She frets in vain over his compulsive hunting of wild boars - an act that is linked to the unsettling dreams that repeatedly interrupt his sleep - and violent confrontations with the landlord's henchmen.

The actor-director creates an electrifying larger-than-life figure whose volatile ways shape the frisson that pulses through the film. The young man, perpetually on a short fuse, is foresworn to protecting the village from forces out to rob the indigenous population of access to their ancestral land. Friction between him and government officials erupts because the latter are loath to accept that the forest belongs to the villagers.

Kantara , a film of phenomenal sweep and power, delivers a blindingly brilliant climax and a build-up to it that send the film soaring to the sort heights that only truly great commercial films have ever attained. The cinematography by Arvind S. Kashyap and the musical score by B. Ajneesh Loknath are magnificent. They work in tandem to create an impactful, out of the ordinary movie experience.

As tensions peak in the village and the forest's demigod (ritualistically celebrated in the annual Bhoota Kola ceremony) lurks in the background and is always ready to strike, the nature and dimension of Shiva's fight become clear.

Shiva's biggest foe is an upright deputy forest range officer Muralidhar (Kishore) who will stop at nothing to ensure that the government's writ runs. The landlord Devendra Suttur (Achyuth Kumar), Shiva's master and benefactor, makes common cause with the feisty young man. But are the powerful arbiter's intentions above board?

The opening moments of Kantara provide some broad historical clues. In quick succession, the script details the context of the present conflict. In 1847, the King, at the bidding of the Panjurli (boar) demigod, hands over a large expanses of land to the tribal denizens of the forest and is in return assured of decades of peace and prosperity.

Many generations later, the King's successor, driven by greed and drunk on power, wants all the land to be restored to the royal family. The deity, infuriated at the violation of the long-standing covenant, metes out instantaneous punishment to the offender. In 1990, the year in which Kantara is set, a government officer arrives in the village with a brief to wrest control of the forest land under his charge.

Legends and myths prevalent in the area and beliefs flowing out the forest dwellers' collective memory constitute the narrative crux of the story. The film is marked by a deep sense of the unique ethos of the people it is about.

Shiva, a Bhoota Kola ritual performer, represents a hoary custom but has passed on the mantle to a cousin because he was witness to the disappearance of his father while he was in the guise of the demigod. The loss still haunts Shiva and spurs him on to fight for the protection of his cultural/spiritual moorings.

Shiva is a virile defender of his people and their animistic philosophy, but he isn't the conventional, insuperable Alpha male that films such as KGF, RRR and Pushpa have brought back to the Indian cinema mainstream and made a box-office killing in the bargain. Kantara resists the temptation and is none the worse for it.

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The climactic good-versus-evil confrontation - it isn't an ordinary hero-vanquishes-villain construct, catapults Kantara to an exalted plane. It offsets the one drawback that dilutes the film's a bit. Such is Shiva's halo that the characters around him - his friends and his girlfriend Leela (Sapthami Gowda) - are not quite as vivid as the other technical and narrative elements of the film.

In the light of the sustained overall finesse, anything in this film that is less than totally unblemished will count only as a minor false stroke on an otherwise impeccably realised canvas. Kantara , propelled by Rishab Shetty's blindingly good star turn and impressive directorial skills, is an insanely entertaining film. An absolute must watch.

Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda

Rishab Shetty

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Kantara: A Legend

2022, Drama/Action, 2h 27m

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Kantara: a legend   photos.

A fiery young man clashes with an unflinching forest officer in a south Indian village where spirituality, fate and folklore rule the lands.

Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure

Original Language: Kannada

Director: Rishab Shetty

Producer: Vijay Kiragandur , Chaluve Gowda

Writer: Rishab Shetty

Runtime: 2h 27m

Production Co: Hombale Films

Cast & Crew

Rishab Shetty

Kaadubettu Shiva , Shiva's Father

Achyuth Kumar

Devendra Suttooru

Pramod Shetty

Sapthami Gowda

Deepak Rai Panaje

Ragu Pandeshwar

Watcher Raghu

Prakash Thuminad

Suchan Shetty

Forest Guard Ravi

Screenwriter

Vijay Kiragandur

Arvind Kashyap

Cinematographer

Pratheek Shetty

Film Editing

Chaluve Gowda

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'Kantara' movie review: Rishab Shetty delivers a compelling and rooted film

Conflicts between man and nature have always provided enough fodder for our filmmakers to dole out one film after the other. Rishab Shetty’s Kantara, though dealing with the same concept, strives to be original and wins at it by staying rooted and realistic.

Even in his previous films, Ricky and Sa.Hi.Pra Shaale, Rishab expressed his flair for telling stories of the coastal belt of Karnataka. With Kantara, he further goes deep into the woods to talk about safeguarding forests even while delivering a compelling revenge-action drama with a blend of crime and divinity.

Kantara is set in a fictional village of Dakshina Kannada, and begins in the 18th century when a king exchanges a piece of land with his people and moves on to find peace and happiness. Centuries later, the same land becomes a threat to the tribals of that area., but they believe their demigods, doubling up as their guardians, protect the village. The story shifts to the 90s, and we see the face-off between villagers who dwell in the forests, and the forest officer who wants to clear any encroachment in the area.

Shiva (Rishab Shetty) lives a carefree life with his friends, and is often at loggerheads with forest officer Murali (Kishore), who just wants to uphold the law of the land. We also have a politician Devendra Suttur (Achyuth Kumar), whose misdeeds become his identity. But there is a bigger evil at work, and Kantara is about Shiva’s struggle to bring justice to the people of the village.

The film ends with an outstanding climax, which is definitely the USP of Kantara. There are multiple viewpoints in Kantara, and it is all wonderfully brought together by Rishab, who has written and directed the film too.

Rishab is only getting better with each film, and the backing of Hombale Films has allowed the filmmaker to make the movie more realistic. Even though it runs on the familiar territory of human-nature conflict, the chapters of Bhoota kola and Kambala make it unique. Every frame of the film is beautiful. DOP Aravind Kashyap lights up Kantara in vivid shades, and with able support from art director Dharani Gange Putra, gives Kantara a rather natural look.

Kantara also explores some serious issues like caste discrimination. While there is no separate comedy track, there are enough quirks in some of the characters to add to the fun quotient. The film brings in crisp narration, and extra credit should be given to the well-orchestrated action sequences.

Composer Ajaneesh Loknath is marvellous in Kantara. While his folk melodies are soothing, the background score accentuates the narrative of Kantara.

Rishab, the actor, is outstanding as Shiva, and breathes life into this rather unconventional character. He has undergone a mass and intense transformation for the role, and the effects are evident. Rishab’s performance in the nail-biting climax will definitely make the audience cheer and applaud for him. Sapthami Gowda as forest guard Leela, who is also Shiva’s love interest, delivers a decent performance in Kantara. Kishore and Achyuth too give powerful performances, and it is a joy to watch the former’s intense ego clashes with Shiva. Manasi Sudhir, Pramod Shetty and Prakash Thuminad too are decent with their acts.

With Kantara, Rishab once again creates magic, both as a director and an actor, and delivers an entertainer with a strong social message, and an even stronger final act.

Director : Rishab Shetty

Cast : Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar

Ratings : 4 out of 5 stars

(This story originally appeared on Cinema Express )

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Kantara Movie Review: Rishab Shetty delivers a compelling and rooted film

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

Conflicts between man and nature have always provided enough fodder for our filmmakers to dole out one film after the other. Rishab Shetty’s Kantara , though dealing with the same concept, strives to be original and wins at it by staying rooted and realistic. Even in his previous films, Ricky and Sa.Hi.Pra Shaale , Rishab expressed his flair for telling stories of the coastal belt of Karnataka. With Kantara , he further goes deep into the woods to talk about safeguarding forests even while delivering a compelling revenge-action drama with a blend of crime and divinity.

Kantara is set in a fictional village of Dakshina Kannada, and begins in the 18th century when a king exchanges a piece of land with his people and moves on to find peace and happiness. Centuries later, the same land becomes a threat to the tribals of that area., but they believe their demigods, doubling up as their guardians, protect the village. The story shifts to the 90s, and we see the face-off between villagers who dwell in the forests, and the forest officer who wants to clear any encroachment in the area.

Director: Rishab Shetty

Cast: Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar

Shiva (Rishab Shetty) lives a carefree life with his friends, and is often at loggerheads with forest officer Murali (Kishore), who just wants to uphold the law of the land. We also have a politician Devendra Suttur (Achyuth Kumar), whose misdeeds become his identity. But there is a bigger evil at work, and Kantara is about Shiva’s struggle to bring justice to the people of the village. The film ends with an outstanding climax, which is definitely the USP of Kantara . There are multiple viewpoints in Kantara , and it is all wonderfully brought together by Rishab, who has written and directed the film too.

Rishab is only getting better with each film, and the backing of Hombale Films has allowed the filmmaker to make the movie more realistic. Even though it runs on the familiar territory of human-nature conflict, the chapters of Bhoota kola and Kambala make it unique. Every frame of the film is beautiful. DOP Aravind Kashyap lights up Kantara in vivid shades, and with able support from art director Dharani Gange Putra, gives Kantara a rather natural look.

Kantara also explores some serious issues like caste discrimination. While there is no separate comedy track, there are enough quirks in some of the characters to add to the fun quotient. The film brings in crisp narration, and extra credit should be given to the well-orchestrated action sequences. Composer Ajaneesh Loknath is marvellous in Kantara . While his folk melodies are soothing, the background score accentuates the narrative of Kantara .

Rishab, the actor, is outstanding as Shiva, and breathes life into this rather unconventional character. He has undergone a mass and intense transformation for the role, and the effects are evident. Rishab’s performance in the nail-biting climax will definitely make the audience cheer and applaud for him. Sapthami Gowda as forest guard Leela, who is also Shiva’s love interest, delivers a decent performance in Kantara . Kishore and Achyuth too give powerful performances, and it is a joy to watch the former’s intense ego clashes with Shiva. Manasi Sudhir, Pramod Shetty and Prakash Thuminad too are decent with their acts.

With Kantara , Rishab once again creates magic, both as a director and an actor, and delivers an entertainer with a strong social message, and an even stronger final act.  

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Kantara Movie Review: Rishab Shetty offers a brilliant experience that should not be missed in theatres

Rishab shetty’s kantara is a tale about folklore, the importance of land and the beliefs of people. the film offers an immersive experience that warrants a theatre watch, says our review..

Listen to Story

• Kantara hit the theatres in Kannada on September 30.
• The film is written, directed and acted by Rishab Shetty.
• The dubbed version of Kantara will release across the globe on October 14.

Release Date: 30 Sep, 2022

When folk tales are represented on screen, rooted in realism, it ends up being an experience in itself. Kantara is one such film that sucks you in right from the get-go and makes you guess what‘s next. The traditional Daivaradhane and Bhoota Kola legacy (traditional dance forms) are brought to life in a two-and-a-half-hour-long film.

Kantara begins in the 18th century with a king giving a piece of land to the villagers in exchange for peace and joy. Cut to several decades later, the king’s descendant arrives at a Bhoota Kola (traditional dance in honour of the local deities) and threatens the tribals to return the land. However, he dies a tragic death.

20 years later, forest officer Murali (Kishore) wants to put an end to the superstitious rituals and save the forest from the villagers. Shiva (Rishab Shetty), a hot-headed henchman, stands up for the entire village. Meanwhile, Leela (Sapthami Gowda) is appointed as a forest guard, but she is torn between her work and her ideals. Will she take a stand? Is Murali the real villain? What does landlord Devendra Suttur (Achyuth Kumar) have in mind when he helps the villagers?

Apart from writing and directing the film, Rishab Shetty has also played the lead role in Kantara, and as an audience, it presents you with the opportunity to discover his talent as a screenplay writer, director and actor. Kantara starts off on a promising note and the way Rishab establishes the characters is what stands out in the crowd. Murali and Shiva are at loggerheads with each other and their rivalry keeps us hooked, expecting a massive showdown. And the film doesn’t disappoint. It keeps you guessing and leaves you wanting more of what’s unfolding on screen.

The story focuses on Shiva and Murali intentionally only to spring a surprise when we get to know the intentions of Devendra Suttur. This brilliant ploy worked so well even though it was predictable. The film was full of excellent performances from the cast of Kantara. Be it Rishab Shetty or Kishore or Sapthami Gowda or Achyuth Kumar, they have delivered exceptional performances. Not to forget the supporting actors, who provide comic relief and emotional undertones throughout the film.

The pre-climax and the climax act of Kantara, featuring a brilliant Rishab Shetty, are a collection of spine-chilling sequences that gives one goosebump. And a recurring scream, which is haunting, adds another layer to the rooted film. Our only grouse with the film is that it’s quite predictable. But, the success of Kantara lies in its milieu and world-building.

Kantara’s cinematography by Arvind S Kashyap is exceptional. The framing and the lighting add value to the period film. So does Ajaneesh Loknath’s explosive music. Another major asset of Kantara is its sound design.

Kantara is yet another gem of a film from Kannada cinema that will take one’s breath away in terms of storytelling and visuals.

3.5 out of 5 for Kantara. Published By: K Janani Published On: Oct 12, 2022 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | Kannada film Kantara starring Rishab Shetty is making waves in theatres. Story, cast and all you need to know

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Kantara movie review: Rishab Shetty's mesmeric blend of action and mythology ranks among the best of Indian cinema

Kantara movie review: rishab shetty brings an original tale rooted in indian culture and mythology that surely ranks among the best efforts by an indian filmmaker in recent times..

By the time of the writing of this review, Kantara has earned endorsements from people far more accomplished in the world of cinema, with many more National Awards than this writer can ever hope to win. So I’ll admit I went into the theatre with a preconceived notion about the film, hoping for something good. But Kantara still blew me away. The beautiful amalgamation of action, thrill, faith, and mythology in this powerful film ranks among the best efforts by any Indian filmmaker in recent times. Also read: Kantara becomes highest-rated Indian film on IMDb, Dhanush calls it 'a must-watch'

A lot has been said about how Indian cinema is losing touch with its roots and not finding original stories from the heartland. This land, being so diverse and vast, is a treasure trove of stories. Kantara shows just what is possible when a good storyteller decides to tell an original tale rooted in the land and its culture, while bringing with himself the expertise and technical finesse of good filmmaking. At the heart of it, Kantara is the age-old story of man vs nature, of villagers vs zamindars, and the thirst for land and money. But it is so much more as it weaves elements from coastal Karnataka’s culture and mythology in the story so seamlessly and fluidly.

The story is set around a village in south Karnataka where a king had given that land to the villagers 150 years ago. In 1990, when the story is set, an upright forest officer (played by a brilliant Kishore) is trying to curb tree felling and hunting in that land, which is now a reserve forest. To complicate matters, the villagers believe that the land was given to them as a boon from their Daiva--the demigod protector of the forest, and are hence in no mood to listen to this outsider. Leading the charge against this is the village strongman Shiva (Rishab Shetty), and he is supported by the king’s descendant, the village’s sahib (Achyuth Kumar).

It is hard to pinpoint the one thing that makes Kantara tick. Let’s start with the script. It takes a story seen very often in our daily lives and introduces some unique local flavour, rooting it to Indian culture, making it stand out from among other such tales. Then comes the real cherry on top of this beautiful cake- the breathtakingly beautiful cinematography of Arvind Kashyap. The way Arvind’s lens has brought alive the folklore of Kantara is a lesson for storytellers. Some of the scenes of the buffalo racing in the beginning of the film deserve special praise, as do all the scenes from the festivities and visuals of the Daiva.

The background score and music from Ajaneesh Loknath complements the camera work totally. The choice to use western instruments in some scenes depicting Indian festivities was a bold one and it pays off quite well. The score brings out the myths, culture, and feel of the land where Kantara is set, taking you into the heart of the story so easily that you forget you are sitting in a movie theatre in another part of the country.

Rishab Shetty as Shiva delivers a powerful performance as this unstoppable force, who will go to any lengths to protect his village and his people. His beautifully-choreographed and slick action sequences would be at home even in the best of Hollywood films. Kishore is on the other spectrum as the calm, simmering forest officer Muralidhar, at loggerheads with Shiva. The actor brings so much intensity into his scenes that it’s a treat to watch.

This review would be incomplete without the mention of how colourfully and glamorously the film portrays the local festivities and rituals. The colours are vivid, the sounds melodic, and the portrayal powerful. All the scenes involving the Daiva are compelling, and some even hair-raising. That guttural scream from the Daiva gives you goosebumps on more than one occasion. Without spoiling anything, I can just say that the climax, while being a completely masala Indian film offering, elevates the film to another level.

Like Sohum Shah’s Tumbbad some four years ago, Kantara is proof that the earthy, rooted folk tales from India have the power to be turned into compelling cinema. Kantara, in fact, takes Tumbbad’s legacy even forward. Despite being appreciated by everyone who watched it. Tumbbad made only ₹ 13 crore at the box office. Kantara, meanwhile, is hurtling towards the 100-crore mark. It is an important film because it’s success will determine if other filmmakers across India will dare to tell original stories.

Director: Rishab Shetty

Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda, Pramod Shetty, and Manasi Sudhir.

Abhimanyu Mathur is an entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times. He writes about cinema, TV, and OTT, churning out interviews, reviews, and good old news stories. ...view detail

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Kantara is a Kannada movie released on 30 Sep, 2022. The movie is directed by Rishab Shetty and featured Rishab Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda and Pramod Shetty as lead characters. Other popular actor who was roped in for Kantara is Kishore Kumar G..

Kantara Movie Review: It’s a Rishab Shetty show all the way

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Kantara Movie Review (2022)

Rishab shetty's 'kantara' is a solid masala-myth that, despite its issues, finds new ways to tell an old story about ‘the chosen one’.

Kantara Movie Cast & Crew

Rishab Shetty writes, directs, and delivers a joyous and very exuberant performance as Shiva, the protagonist of Kantara – but he's absent from the opening stretch that is set in the nineteenth century. We hear a tale about a king who had everything. He had the love of his family. He had the love of his subjects. What he did not have was peace of mind. There's a second time period, in the mid-1970s, and a third, in 1990. The screenplay uses many devices to tie the past and the present – or rather, to bring the past to the present and show how the two are always intertwined. There's the sound of anklets heard in a forest. There's a near-mythical sword passed on from the days of the king to the days we find Shiva in. There's the reference to Vishnu's third incarnation, Varaha Avatar, where the god became a boar.

And the most important past-present connection is a fearsome scream, which is also a metaphor for the cry of anguish of the landless. We hear this cry in the present-day Bhoota Kola performances, and we get into the meat of the plot: Who "owns" the forests? Or to extend this point, who owns Nature? The tribals who have lived in these lands for centuries? The government, which draws boundaries and creates forest reserves and wants to relocate these tribals? Or the local landlords, who still think that their ancestors gave away these lands, and so these lands are – in a sense – still theirs? Attached to this supertext is the subtext of whether we can really reject our identity. This question is posed through Shiva, who hails from a family of Bhoota Kola performers, but refuses to have anything to do with the folk-art form. It has something to do with his nightmares, which he must learn to face.

Meanwhile, he is content getting a "mass" entry as a Kambala champion, a man who wins buffalo races. Kantara follows the classic template of The Chosen One, a man who appears ordinary but is destined for greatness. At first, Shiva is as ordinary as ordinary can be. He drinks. He hunts. He pinches a girl's hip and peeps when she's bathing. He's called a "fighter cock", and he is constantly cursed by his mother. And like every self-respecting masala -movie hero, he locks horns with the antagonist, the man who will not allow him to do the things he likes to do. This man is the forest officer Murali, nicely played with gruff authority by Kishore. He represents the System, the government, and at least in one respect, he's the opposite of Shiva: this man does things by the rulebook. The third vertex in this male-triangle movie is the landlord played by Achyuth Kumar. He always wears white, and his heart appears equally spotless, equally pure.

But note his name: Devendra. It's a lordly name. It refers to the Vedic god, Indra – as opposed to the more pagan god we see being worshipped by the tribals. There’s a bit of discrimination right there. In short, we are either in a masala movie disguised as folklore, or in folklore disguised as a masala movie. Either way, everything has a touch of symbolism. When Murali interferes with a Bhoota Kola performance, it's also the government interfering in the centuries-old life and customs of tribals. When a tree falls on a Jeep, it almost seems like the forest is avenging itself on behalf of its people. And when the king's sword returns in the story, we recall a promise being made and what would happen when it is broken. All of this is richly shot by Arvind S Kashyap, and elevated by B Ajaneesh Loknath's score, which is simultaneously as big as rock music and as subtle as the gently rippling notes at the film's opening. And some of the action choreography is superb.

There are issues in the writing. The portions of Leela (Sapthami Gowda) falling for Shiva should have been better. There's a taken-for-granted quality about this love story. And though Kantara is not exactly a whodunit, the villains are easy enough to spot from a mile away, and a character's change of heart is entirely expected – meaning, the narrative could have used a lot more tension. And in such a story, I wish they'd avoided the cliches – like Shiva bursting in fury when his mother is slapped around, or the really cheap shot of a little girl being killed. But the bigger picture of Kantara is in the smaller details. It’s in the way Leela is torn between her affiliation to her job, i.e. the government, and her people, i.e. the tribals. It's in the way Nature is manifested as wild animals, as forests, as fire, as rain. When Shiva is drenched in a downpour, he says he isn't wet; he has been cleansed. It’s almost like Nature has performed a ritual on him. Despite the generic nature of the middle portions, the closing stretch complements the film’s opening beautifully. And there’s very little more potent than the rush of myth.

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Baradwaj Rangan

National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, former deputy editor of The Hindu and senior editor of Film Companion, has carved a niche for himself over the years as a powerful voice in cinema, especially the Tamil film industry, with his reviews of films. While he was pursuing his chemical engineering degree, he was fascinated with the writing and analysis of world cinema by American critics. Baradwaj completed his Master’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations through scholarship. His first review was for the Hindi film Dum, published on January 30, 2003, in the Madras Plus supplement of The Economic Times. He then started critiquing Tamil films in 2014 and did a review on the film Subramaniapuram, while also debuting as a writer in the unreleased rom-com Kadhal 2 Kalyanam. Furthermore, Baradwaj has authored two books - Conversations with Mani Ratnam, 2012, and A Journey Through Indian Cinema, 2014. In 2017, he joined Film Companion South and continued to show his prowess in critiquing for the next five years garnering a wide viewership and a fan following of his own before announcing to be a part of Galatta Media in March 2022.

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• Home » Movies » Kantara Film Review A Fairy Tale That Is Nothing Short Of Brilliant

Kantara review: A fairy tale that is nothing short of brilliant

Easily one of the finest cinematic experiences in recent times from Sandalwood, writer, director, and actor Rishab Shetty delivers his best till date, both on and off the screen.

Published:Oct 10, 2022

A still from the movie Kantara. (Supplied)

Kantara leaves a mark on audience!

Kantara (Kannada)

• Cast: Rishab Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Sapthami Gowda, Pramod Shetty, Shine Shetty
• Director: Rishab Shetty
• Producer: Vijay Kiragandur
• Music: B Ajaneesh Loknath
• Running time: 2 hours 48 minutes
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Revathy
• Director: Maneesh Sharma
• Producer: Aditya Chopra
• Music: Pritam Chakraborty
• Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

The Kannada movie Kantara kicks off with a king from the 18th century who has all the comforts of life but for peace and happiness. He sets out on a journey seeking fulfilment and soon stumbles upon a deity located inside a forest worshipped by the tribals.

Initially unwilling to accompany him, the supreme power makes a pact with the king — fulfilment if he donates some part of his land to the tribals who worship the God. But if he backtracks on his words, the God would take his peace back forever.

With the greed and selfishness of humans combined with cultural and traditional beliefs, Kantara is a brilliant piece of work stitched together perfectly in terms of making and on-screen performances.

Apart from the highlights of Dakshina Kannada culture — traditions such as daivaradhane , bhoota kola , and kambala (buffalo race) — it is the narration that captures the attention of the viewer right till the end.

The peace pact is unsettled when the king’s future generation eyes the vast land donated to the tribals.

This is when the deity returns with a vengeance. Shiva (Rishab Shetty), who witnesses his father in whom the deity had incarnated and took him away forever, grows on to become a vagabond. Thereafter, it is Shiva’s show all the way.

Achyuth Kumar plays a descendant of the king who is now a landlord. Another character, that of a forest officer, played by Kishore captures the man-nature conflict well.

The dual character of the landlord and how he meticulously plans to retain the land lost to the tribals sets the tempo of the tale.

The works of the art and cinematography departments complement each other to make it a visual treat. The best part of it all is the simplicity of characters that gives it a natural feel, which is unfortunately a big missing factor in recent commercial ventures.

It neither falls under the commercial nor the parallel films category and strikes a fine balance, with a good and clean storytelling experience.

Yes, there are a few drawbacks, but they hardly make a difference and do not spoil the overall effort.

In between, there are bits of romance, fights, and humour but the tale largely revolves around human greed and conflict with nature, along with a fine representation of culture and traditions.

One-man show

Apart from writing an effective script and then realising it perfectly on the screen, Rishab , who portrays Shiva, is undoubtedly the shining star of Kantara .

Rishab Shetty in Kantara (Facebook/Kantara)

He has excelled in his acting, showing remarkable versatility. What makes it memorable is that he has achieved it without the label of a star actor.

Be it the kambala or the daivaradhane sequences, Rishab leaves a lasting impression. Unlike KGF , made under the same banner — Hombale Films — Kantara came with no expectations but ends up as one of the best cinematic experiences in recent times in Kannada.

We can even say that it is easily one of the best Kannada films of all time.

The conflict

Not limited to mere romance or action, the movie focuses on the burgeoning conflict between humans and nature. The plot of a forest officer who is up in arms against tribals over encroaching forest land reflects the current real-life scenario.

While nature is one important aspect of the film, it also portrays the unique culture and traditions followed by the tribals and captures the rich history of the Tulunadu region.

Any good dish is a combination of proper ingredients and the perfect making process. For Kantara , the script, narration, and technical excellence are the ingredients. It combines this with power-packed performances for a well-made entertainer.

The film ends on a high note with a breathtaking sequence showing the fight for survival. Though the end is predictable, it nevertheless leaves a mark of its own.

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Kantara Review: Lavishly Shot Folklore Story

Movie: Kantara Rating: 3/5 Banner: Hombale Films Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda and others Music: Ajaneesh Loknath Director of Photography: Arvind S. Kashyap Editor: K. M. Prakash, Pratheek Shetty Producer: Vijay Kiragandur Written and directed by: Rishab Shetty Release Date: Oct 15, 2022

After setting the box office on fire in Karnataka, the latest Kannada hit ‘Kantara’ got dubbed into Telugu and hit the screens today.

Let’s find out what the hype is all about.

Story: A king in the 1800s gave his forest land to the local tribe's people. In the 1970s, one of the king’s successors tried to claim the lands as his. When he moves to court to claim the land, he dies on the steps of the court.

In 1990, a forest officer Murali (Kishore) lays restrictions on the forest dwellers saying the government land cannot be touched. The local youth Shiva (Rishab Shetty) challenges Murali. 

Shiva is also a loyal henchman to the local feudal lord Devendra (Achyuth Kumar). Wrongly assuming that Murali tries to usurp their community from the forests, Shiva goes against him. Shiva’s father was a Kola ritual performer, in their forests and his cousin Guruva practices the same. 

When Guruva was killed brutally, Shiva gets to know reality. The rest of the drama is about vengeance. 

Artistes’ Performances: Kannada actor Rishab Shetty suits well to the character of a 90’s rustic youngster. His brilliant performance comes out in the penultimate sequences. His acting is simply superb in the last 25 minutes. 

Kishore as forest officer does excellently. Achyuth Kumar as the feudal lord gives a terrific performance. Sapthami Gowda as the female lead is okay. 

Technical Excellence: The film has technical brilliance. The cinematography is top-notch. Set in a deep forest, the filming of Kolam sequences and the buffalo race are mesmerizing.

Music director Ajaneesh’s background score and the cameraman’s brilliant shots have created a terrific mood. They steal the show. The film has a slow pace.

Highlights: Climax sequences Cinematography and background music Rishab’s final performance

Drawback: Middle portion Cliched jokes

Analysis To get a grip on the latest Kannada blockbuster “Kantara”, we also need to know the customs, folk culture, and the land of Dakshina Karnataka (Mangalore area). The western ghat region of Karnataka is home to deep forests and unique culture. Bhoota Kola is a ritual, where a man performs with all the colorful makeup and finally delivers a speech. People believe that the speech is God's word. This myth or legend exists in this region. Some families follow the customs.

The hero of “Kantara” belongs to the Bhoota Kola family. The film begins with a King’s story in 1847 and then cuts to 1970 when the hero’s father performs Kolam and mysteriously disappears into forests. In 1990, when the story is set, the hero is haunted by dreams. He sees god coming in Varaha roopam. It is his guilt as he hunts pigs in the forest. 

So, there is a hero, whose father was Bhoota Kola, and one who sees God in dreams. And the hero is working for a feudal lord, who acts as their protector. Then the main conflict is about the encroachment of the forests and lands. Director Rishab Shetty has added elements of myth, folklore, and local traditions to tell the story. We need to take all these into account to understand this film. 

Simply, the film is a regular masala film of a brother taking revenge on the feudal lord who kills his cousin. There are clichéd sequences. The love story between the hero and heroine is dull. It lacks any novelty. The villain is in plain sight. The villain’s (played by Achyuth Kumar of ‘KGF’) role is also quite clichéd. 

The comedy scenes and drinking sequences are quite boring as well. But despite these issues, many elements have made the film unique and immersive. 

Much of the film delves into the hero’s hunting habits, his romantic episodes, his camaraderie with local friends, and their village issues. But when the hero’s cousin gets killed, the film takes an entirely different route and it turns into a thrilling ride. The final 20 minutes of this film provide a riveting experience. Acting, taking, music, and sound design have synced well in this episode. Thus, ‘Kantara’ becomes a riveting film.

‘Kantara’ means deep forest. For Telugu audiences, the middle portions and some comedy sequences don’t work but the film’s strength lies in the climax episode and technical aspects.  On a whole this film takes the audience into a different world with its amazing background and sound effects. This is for those who want to experience an out of the box experience.  

Bottom line: A different experience

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KANTARA MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

Kantara is a film written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kirangandur under the banner Hombale Films. The film has Rishab Shetty himself playing the lead role alongside Sapthami Gowda, while Achyuth Kumar and Kishore play supporting roles among others. The music is composed by Ajaneesh Lokanath, while the cinematography is by Aravind S Kashyap.

In the year 1847, a king made a deal with the god that he would give some of his forest land to the tribals in exchange for prosperous living. If the king breaks the deal, it would lead to invoking the wrath of the god. Cut to 1970, a landlord who is a part of the king's family, wants to take back the lands and it results in the god cursing him, and he dies immediately, the same way the god had predicted.

Now the year is 1990, and the landlord's son (played by Achyuth Kumar) is a respectable figure in the village, while forest officer Murali takes charge to retrieve the forest back from the villagers. Murali's nemesis is Shiva (played by Rishab Shetty), and they keep getting involved in ego clashes frequently. However, things are not what meets the eye, and the rest of the film is about the power play between Shiva, Murali, and landlord Devendra Suttooru.

There are two things very important for a film to work completely. Firstly, it needs a banger of an opening scene to grab the audience's attention immediately, and a top notch climax that makes the audience forget the flaws of the film and go back home with takeaways and memories. Kantara ticks both these boxes rightly.

The climax in special is a mindblowing concoction of Rishab Shetty's acting masterclass, Ajaneesh Lokanath's grand music, Aravind Kashyap's colours and lighting, and Rishab Shetty's writing. Rishab Shetty who doubles up as Writer-Director and Actor understands his character so well. He infuses mythology with present day elements, adds a bit of politics, and treats it in a contemporary style.

There is a ritual called Bhootha Kola that's shown in the film. It involves a folk performance by a person from the village. There are multiple instances of the same in the film. Midway through the first half, Swaraj Shetty plays the role of the performer, while in the climax, Rishab Shetty assumes that role. The differences in their treatment of the character are starkly different, and that stands testament to how excellent an actor Rishab is.

While the film has exemplary music, cinematography and everything, it is hard to stop talking about the third act where Rishab Shetty turns into a beast... quite literally. Apart from him, Kishore is quite restrained as a forest officer and Achyuth Kumar gets the cunning nature of Devendra Suttooru really well. In short, it is rare to see a film that gets the writing, acting, and technical aspects right, and at the same time remain rooted. Kantara is one such rare gem.

It would be a grave crime to call Kantara a film and reduce it to a video that played inside the cinema hall for two-and-a-half hours. It is something much more grand, rooted, and explains to the audience what the difference is between 'cinema' and 'a film'. Kantara has so many moments of cinematic brilliance spread throughout the run time.

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REVIEW RATING EXPLANATION

பிரேக்கிங் சினிமா செய்திகள், திரை விமர்சனம், பாடல் விமர்சனம், ஃபோட்டோ கேலரி, பாக்ஸ் ஆபிஸ் செய்திகள், ஸ்லைடு ஷோ, போன்ற பல்வேறு சுவாரஸியமான தகவல்களை தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கு கிளிக் செய்யவும்      

KANTARA NEWS STORIES

கன்னடத்தில் பட்டைய கிளப்பும் 'காந்தாரா'.. படம் பார்த்த பின் நடிகர் தனுஷ் வைரல் ட்வீட்!

இந்திய அளவில் ரசிகர்களை கவரும் "காந்தாரா".. வெளியான மிரட்டலான தமிழ் டிரெய்லர்!

சூப்பர் ஹிட்டடித்த KGF தயாரிப்பாளரின் 'காந்தாரா' திரைப்படம்..தமிழில் ரிலீசாகுதா? எப்போ?

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Kantara Movie Review

Article by Satya B Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 11:34 am, 8 October 2022

Director : Rishab Shetty Producer : Vijay Kiragandur Cast : Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Pramod Shetty, Sapthami Gowda Music : Ajaneesh Loknath Banner : Hombale Films Running time : 150 minutes Language : Kannada

Rishab Shetty is one of the finest actors in Kannada cinema, for the first time he transformed into a filmmaker and announced ‘Kantara’ with himself as the main lead. ‘Kantara’ has been recently released and let’s see how Rishab handled the craft behind the camera.

The story is set in a fictional village, where Siva (Rishab Shetty), son of a Bootha Kola Performer, is a famed Kambale Athlete, who works under the biggest landlord of the village, DevendraSuttoru (Acyuth Kumar). Siva is a rebel, who loves his village and his people. Since the village is nearer to a forest, people there are used to visiting the forest for animal hunting/ vegetables/ fruits, etc., so much, the forest itself has almost become a part of their life. Things start to loom when a newly appointed Forest officer Muralidharan (Kishore) visits the village and tries to stop the people from going to the forest, restricting their rituals, citing they are harming the forest, this causes a feud between Siva and Muralidharan, that slowly threats the entire village’s existence, What follows next is whether Siva able to save his village or not.

Writing and Direction :

One will wonder whether this is actually Rishab Shetty’s debut as a director because the kinda powerful subject he has written and the impeccable command he showcases concerning the direction craft he has makes one truly astonish, he directs the movie with no energy drop in proceedings, the drama was that tightly written and superbly paced.

The seamless blend of humor in this serious subject was fantastic, especially in the first half the humor gels so well. It’s been a while since I laughed at the comical moments in a movie this wholeheartedly.

It’s a culturally-rooted movie, the tagline ‘Dantha Kathe’ means the stories that are very popular and passed through generations but are not authentically proven, such stories exist across many states, and Rishab wanted to tell one such mythical story with Bhoota Kola folklore (a spirit worship ritual celebrated at Dakshina Kannada side), the 3rd act of ‘Kantara’ deals with that and it’s so phenomenal, it haunts you for the days, it reminds you of the power that Cinema as an Artform has, and to what extent it can impact the audience. Entire theatre overwhelms by some unfathomable emotion there, it’s almost a transcendental theatrical experience, that much divinely the movie moves you there. Rishab Shetty gave a damnn brilliant debut as a “Filmmaker” in Indian Cinema.

Actors Performances:

Rishab Shetty as ‘Siva’ was magnificent, don’t wonder if he wins a National award for his performance in this movie, with such fiery conviction he displays his act in this movie. Kishore as Forest officer was excellent, he conveys the seriousness extraordinarily on screen. Acyuth Kumar also did a great job in the Land Lord’s character. Prakash Thuminad in his given comical role ‘Raampa’ was just superb, every time he appears in the movie, theatres will surely burst into laughter. He was that hilarious. Heroine Sapthami Gowda looked beautiful and performed decently.

Technical Departments:

The movie was quite exquisite technically. Cinematography by Arvind S. Kashyap was marvelous. The village in which the movie is set looked beautiful thanks to his lush visuals. Music by B. AjneeshLokanath was tremendous, he brought great life to visuals with his score on the screen. Editing by K.M. Prakash and Pratheek Shetty was pitch-perfect for the most part, had they cut some repetitive scenes in the first half, the movie would’ve been even better.

Performances of the entire cast Engaging and interesting narrative Music

Thumbs Down:

Few repetitive and unnecessary scenes could’ve been avoided in the first half.

Final Word:

Overall, ‘Kantara’ is a masterpiece that shouldn’t be missed in theatres. Watch it for the divine vibes it evokes in you in its last hour.

Tags Kantara Kantara Movie Review

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When greed paves the way for betrayal, scheming and murder, a young tribal reluctantly dons the traditions of his ancestors to seek justice.

Kantara is a 2022 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films. The movie stars Rishab Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda, and Pramod Shetty in lead roles. The movie is an adventure drama thriller that runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The story revolves around Shiva, a henchman who lives in a small tribal hamlet with his mother. An unforgettable incident that he had witnessed during his childhood makes him stay away from the traditional Daivaradhane and Bhoota Kola legacy. He is a vagabond and is happy loafing around with his friends and doing petty jobs for his landlord. When Forest officer Murali enters the scene, it gives a fresh dimension to the man-vs-nature fight. Can Shiva save the forest from Murali? Or is Murali just a dummy bait cast by bigger fish?

Kantara's Unparalleled Journey of Accolades and Cultural Splendor

Kantara has won several awards and accolades since its release. Here are some of the notable ones:

Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award: The movie won the Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award at the 54th International Film Festival of India.

Best Film and Best Actor nominations at Oscars 2023: The movie has been nominated for Best Film and Best Actor categories at the Oscars 2023.

First Kannada film to win Special Jury Award at IFF: Kantara has become the first Kannada film to win the Special Jury Award at the International Film Festival of India.

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