Kantara Chapter 1 Review: Rishab Shetty’s Kantara (2022) was an underdog whose growl proved so mighty that it secured multiple National Award wins and a glaringly positive box office response. But the odds of hitting the jackpot twice in a row are slim to none. Yet, Kantara: Chapter 1 is an earnest attempt to recreate the cinematic ‘aha’ moment we once witnessed.
Kantara: Chapter 1 delves deeper into the mysteries of the jungle and explores the sacred significance of the coveted land. It reiterates the notion that whenever evil overshadows the good in society, God’s avatar is born to save the desolate. In the prequel, when Kulsekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) is crowned as the King of Bangara, his death knell rings clear: he is an unjust king who thrives on exploitation and an unrightful air of arrogance.
When Kulshekhara decides to challenge the sanctity of the mystic forest, the Kantara tribe’s strongest leader, Berme (Rishab Shetty), stands in his way to protect the home of his daivas. What follows is a ‘town mouse-country mouse’ exchange, and tempted by the advancements of civilisation in Bangara, Berme decides to venture outside the borders of his sacred jungle.
