Let’s get one thing straight: Kantara Chapter 1 isn’t here to entertain. It is here to possess you.
Rishab Shetty, the man behind the 2022 sleeper hit Kantara, returns not just as director and lead actor, but as a mythmaker. This time, he’s not telling a story, he’s conjuring a legend. Set centuries before the events of the original, Chapter 1 plunges us into the heart of the Kadamba dynasty, where tribal resistance meets divine wrath in a tale that’s equal parts folklore, fury, and fire.
Berme (Shetty) is no ordinary tribal leader. He is a man marked by destiny, chosen by the gods, and haunted by visions that blur the line between man and myth. When the Bangara royals encroach upon sacred tribal lands, Berme doesn’t just fight back, he channels something ancient, something terrifying, something divine.
The narrative unfolds like a fever dream, nonlinear, poetic, and unapologetically spiritual. There are no easy answers here. Just rituals, riddles, and rage.
Rishab Shetty doesn’t act. He surrenders. His portrayal of Berme in Kantara Chapter 1 is primal, physical, and deeply unsettling. You don’t watch him, you witness him. Especially during the climactic Bhoota Kola sequence, where Shetty’s transformation is so visceral, it feels like the screen itself might combust.
Rukmini Vasanth brings a quiet dignity as Princess Kanakavathi, while Gulshan Devaiah and Jayaram add texture to the royal court. But make no mistake, this is Shetty’s show, and he’s not sharing the spotlight.
Ajaneesh Loknath’s score is less music and more invocation. It pulses, chants, and howls. While it lacks a breakout anthem like “Varaha Roopam,” the soundscape is immersive, eerie, and essential to the film’s spiritual rhythm.
Cinematographer Arvind Kashyap paints with shadow and smoke. The forests are alive. The rituals are hypnotic. The action, especially the chariot chase, is brutal and balletic. Every frame feels like it was carved from stone and soaked in blood.
Berme Rides into Legend in Kantara Chapter 1
Kantara Chapter 1 isn’t for everyone. It’s slow. It’s strange. It’s spiritual. But for those willing to surrender to its rhythm, it’s a cinematic possession, a film that doesn’t just tell a story, but becomes one.
This isn’t just a prequel. It’s a prophecy.
Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4/5)
