Kantara: Chapter 1 review: Rishabh Shetty delivers a grand prequel which triumphs visually despite narrative flaws!

Kantara's origin story- Kantara Chapter 1, helmed by Rishabh Shetty, stuns with cinematography and divine portrayals, despite being uneven and slow-paced! 

The success of Rishabh Shetty’s Kantara back in 2022 was a classic case of the power of brilliant storytelling, irrespective of the scale or language. It was a film that took pride in its tradition and folklore, and its prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, too, retains its soul, but this time with grander scale and ambition, offering the audience a memorable experience despite slightly paling in comparison to its predecessor. 

Set centuries behind the events of the first film, Kantara: Chapter 1 narrates the origin story of the mystic forest and the daivas and guligas who protect and nurture it. The film, keeping in line with the spirit of the original saga, explores the themes of greed, the relationship between man and nature, and a community's fight for a dignified life. Shetty plays Berme, a warrior from the tribal community, who aims to uplift his hamlet through trading of the natural resources that his land is blessed with. However, his ambition is challenged by King Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) of the neighboring Kadamba kingdom, who wants to capture Kantara, offending the truce between his ancestors and the residents of the forest. This unequal tussle of courage and might, blended with some mysteries and mystic entails the rest of the story. 

Also Read: Kantara: Chapter 1 trailer review: A visual spectacle packed with faith, drama and action!

The first half of the film takes its time, in fact a lot of time building the world and characters of Kantara Chapter 1. It exhausts you with stretched action, unnecessary plotlines, and forced comedic sequences that make the narration unengaging. The romance between Berme and Princess Kanakvathi (Rukmini Vasanth) injects some sweet moments, however, the characters and high-points, besides the one featuring divine elements, lack depth and nuance that refrain you from emotionally investing in them. Not only this, the usage of Mumbaiya slangs like dhakkan, jhingoor and more look amusing in a period drama! 

The film rewards your patience in the second half and stuns you with the kind of visuals that are easily the best you would have seen in an Indian film. The cinematography and VFX teams have a brilliant job bringing this folklore to life with perfectly rendered animals and the depictions ofguligaanddaivas that give you goosebumps. It is tightly paced and also surprises you with an unexpected twist that makes up for the loopholes in the film. Gulshan Devaiah is wasted as the unjust and greedy King who has immersed himself in a life of indulgence. Rukmini Vasanth, however, impresses as the princess with various shades who supports Berme in his ambition. The real star of the film, on expected lines, remains Shetty, who is convincing as the irreverent, and determined warrior of the tribe and the force that protects Kantara’s interest when the evil takes over. His embodiment of the divine guliga is jaw-dropping and makes you think not only of the actor-director’s craft as an artist but also his immense faith in his roots that make his depiction look so convincing and earnest. Feelings usually get lost in translation, and Shetty’s decision to retain the scenes in the original language adds to the authenticity and effectiveness of the sequences.

Music is another character in itself that complements these scenes powerfully. While the film does comment on themes like untouchability, respecting diversity, dissenting against injustice and standing for your dignity, some depth and more nuance in the storytelling would have taken the overall experience to another level. Nonetheless, Kantara Chapter 1, still remains a rarely seen before visual spectacle that you should definitely experience on the big screen!

Kantara: Chapter 1 is now playing in cinema halls near you!

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