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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'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' 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.
Related Stories
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 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
- Times of India
Kantara - Official Trailer
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Kantara | Kannada Song - Singara Siriye
Kantara | Song - Singara Siriye
Kantara - Dialogue Promo (Telugu)
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- This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor. Share
- This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor.
- This is the second time Arjun Kapoor is playing a double role, the first being Aurangzeb (2013).
- The song ‘Yamma yamma’ from ‘Shaan’ is sampled in the song ‘Partywali Night' for the film.
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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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Rishab shetty’s kannada-language movie has been dubbed and re-released in hindi..
Actor-director Rishab Shetty’s Kantara is the latest Southern production to send viewers into raptures or numbness, as the case may be. The Kannada-language movie was released on September 30 and has been re-released in cinemas in a Hindi dubbed version (as was the Telugu film Sita Ramam ).
A dizzying mesh of animistic beliefs, folk performance traditions, generational memory and concerns about land rights, Kantara (Mystical Forest) is best expressed not by its uninhibited rustic characters or colourful visuals but by a sonic element. If we were to put it into words, we would call it “wooooooaaaav”. This signature cry of the demigod Bhoota bookends the movie’s gripping opening portions and its visceral extended climax.
Shetty directs his own screenplay with unbridled panache, treating even routine scenes as milestones on an epic journey. The 150-minute film unfolds across three time zones. The first phase serves as an origin myth of how humans came to depend on forests.
A king enters into a pact with Bhoota, handing over his land to forest dwellers in exchange for Bhoota’s munificence. In later years, Bhoota is represented by a designated performer who dresses up as the demigod at festivities. A turn of events causes Bhoota to disappear into the forest in a blur of tinkling anklets.
The Bhoota performer’s heir Shiva (Rishab Shetty) has no desire to follow in his father’s footsteps. Instead, Shiva is content to win the local kambala (bullock riding) competition, swig locally brewed grog, smoke up, and hunt boar and fish.
The idyll is interrupted not by the king’s latest descendant, the seemingly benevolent landlord Devendra (Achyut Kumar). The new, and aggressive, forest department officer Muralidhar (Kishore) declares the villagers to be encroachers and attempts to seize the land in the name of the Indian state.
Devendra plays peacemaker as Shiva and his posse gird their loins to take on Muralidhar. Shiva’s sweetheart Leela (Sapthami Gowda), who works for Muralidhar, is squeezed between her community and her professional duties.
Leela is ultimately a stepney in the main ride: the realisation of who is actually behind the land grab. Even Muralidhar is a red herring for a feast that takes its own sweet time to be laid out.
While waiting for Shiva to embrace his inner Maoist, Shetty rolls out bawdy comedy, disposable melodramatic scenes of Shiva jousting with his crabby mother (Manasi Sudhir), and various shades of swagger. Some of these scenes are amusing in themselves, particularly the relationship between Shiva and his loyal cronies.
Kantara ’s themes have been explored in a more sober register by arthouse films and documentaries about the pre-modern belief systems that bind indigenous communities to their land. The Bhoota Kola performative tradition enlivens an often routine vengeance drama stacked with macho posturing and slow-motion action scenes.
Shiva is an iteration of the unreconstructed males valourised by popular cinema. Shiva’s courtship of Leela won’t fit the accepted definition of consent. (Does a female waist exist only to be rudely pinched?) At least Kantara is less coy than Pushpa: The Rise (2021), which kicked up a mighty fuss over a harmless kiss.
Literally broad-chested and consistently brawny, Shiva might have been a caricature if it weren’t Rishab Shetty’s deep investment in his character’s emotional arc. Shetty’s interest in the Yakshagana performing tradition pays rich dividends when Kantara finally brings together its disparate threads. Always on fire, Shetty’s Shiva is truly explosive in the film’s blazing stand-off.
The Bhoota’s hold over the villagers’ imagination of themselves kicks off the movie, and the Bhoota rescues Kantara from its wandering ways. Arvind S Kashyap’s lensing and colour scheme are most vivid when the spirit’s human manifestation dances into view, emitting the “wooooooaaaav” roar that lingers long after Kantara has ended.
Countless films have been rescued by the device of the deus ex machina . In Kantara too, the machine of the gods trundles into view at just the right moment. While the film’s politics about land rights is sketchy and weak, Shetty’s evocation of a sacred landscape where the rational seamlessly co-exists with the supernatural leads to a memorable battle between human perfidy and the forces of divinity.
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Kantara movie review: A vibrant and mythical tale with just the right drama
Kantara is an important story that is portrayed stunningly with the help of folklore, and art that is native to the Kundapura area. Rishab Shetty has performed stunningly in an affecting film.
Language: Kannada
Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore Kumar and Sapthami Gowda
Director: Rishab Shetty
Star rating: 3.5/5
Hombale Films, the production house that bankrolled KGF films is back with a dynamic film called Kantara . It is a rooted, it is vibrant and it is performed so stunningly, that there are moments that leave you in goose bumps. The most important characteristic of this film — despite its flaws — is how it chooses to encapsulate the fight of the tribal community for their land. This is an issue that persists in India today, but filmmaker and lead actor in the film — Rishab Shetty — has set the story mainly in the 1990s. The film does span three timelines, going back to 1890. It all begins like a fairy tale, and speaks of Kings and their lives.
One such, who had everything, including the blessings of his people continually felt empty within, and he sets upon a soul searching journey that leads him to the village that the film is set in. His journey ends with him surrendering his weapon and himself to the local deity, who guards the tribal community. He attains the peace that he had been in search of all this while in the presence of this goddess and he seeks the community’s permission to take her back to the palace.
This moment is indicative of how the royal families in the 1890s appropriated the tribal gods, but left the people behind. They went on to oppress these people, continued to enslave them and forced them to stay illiterate purely out of hunger for more power and greed. Caste system was upheld strongly, and the hegemony continued to stay strong for decades still.
However, the community in the film has a guardian angel, and that is their deity. She seeks a promise from the King, in return for his favour, She orders for the surrounding land — forest and all — be bequeathed to the people of the community. She also warns the king that if any of his future generations were to back away from this promise, they would face and unfortunate end. This is where the film gets a brilliant mythical tone. This deity that everyone believes in strongly keeps the community for decades. The film flashes forward to 1970.
This time period reiterates how people in positions of power abuse it. It portrays one of the King’s descendants lusts after the many acres of land. The value of the land has grown manifold in the years since, and all this man can see is money. He takes part in a popular local procession of the community that celebrates their deity. He sees a performance of Bhoota Kola (an animist form of spirit worship that is native to the costal districts of Tulunadu and some parts of Malenadu in Karnataka and Kasargod in Kerala). One wrong move by this descendent leads to his death. Yet, it also leads to the disappearance of the performer. It is his son — Shiva (Rishab Shetty) who inherits the talent for Bhoota Kola. However, after having witnessed his father’s disappearance first hand, he decides not take up Bhoota Kola, and instead begins to work for the dead descendant’s son who goes by “Landlord” in the film.
Shiva is the one who must deal with greed for money and for power in the present. How he grows up from a naive thug on hire for the Landlord, to a responsible adult who stands with his people is well-etched out and entertaining. The region that the story is set in, the people that Rishab has penned about in the film — its all his home ground. He developed the story of Kantara during the pandemic lockdown when he was home, after hearing the story of a performer from his son. So Kantara is as rooted as it can get. Especially, the sequences featuring Bhoota Kola are so stunningly shot by Arvind Kashyap that it induces goosebumps multiple times.
The music of Kantara is also a star of the film that not only supports the narrative but elevates it as well. The inspiration from local folklore of Karnataka, the local artists that were spoken to, and the ones who were also featured in the film add authenticity to the endeavour of adapting a folklore. It is a simple tale about a community reclaiming the lands that were originally theirs, owed to them by a man who bartered with them. It would have come across as uninspired, if not for the introduction of Bhoota Kola, and the myths that surround spirit worshipping.
Above all of this, what really takes the prize is Rishab’s acting. This is something that the director-actor’s friends had hyped up before the release of the film. However, the hype is real. The last 40 minutes of the film is where Rishab has truly outdone himself, and every moment is gravitating. There is no way you could stray away from the screen, not even momentarily.
There is but one complaint that I have of this film and it is the way Shiva woos Leela. It is understandable that the film is set in 90s, but pinching the waist, or using certain situations to touch her left me cringing in my seat. Leela’s character is not really one-note, either. Her struggles are interesting, but she never get the time to unpack it on screen. This is one of the few characters that truly needed more attention, failing which the film has fallen prey to the syndrome of portraying a female character as nothing but an attractive lamppost.
Overall though, this is film that one must watch just to understand the dynamics of a life lived in interior parts of Karnataka. There is Kambala, and Bhoota Kola, and then there is the story itself that rings true which is captured with stunning visuals. All of this, makes for a film that is definitely worth your time!
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Kantara (2022)
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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.
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Kannada film Kantara starring Rishab Shetty is making waves in theatres. Story, cast and all you need to know
Kannada actor rishab shetty's kantara, which released on september 30, is slowly gaining momentum in theatres. with the film releasing in hindi on october 14, here's a quick guide to what the film is all about..
Listen to Story
- Kantara is receiving overwhelming responses from the critics and audiences alike.
- The film is gearing up for a release in Hindi on October 14.
- Here's all you need to know about Rishab Shetty's Kantara.
WHY IS KANTARA SPECIAL?
Coming from the makers of KGF, Kantara has already generated buzz among the film buffs. The film, which released on September 30 , did not get enough screens in Tamil Nadu as it clashed with the mighty Ponniyin Selvan, directed by Mani Ratnam. In Hindi, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan's Vikram Vedha was released. Telugu films, GodFather and The Ghost and Malayalam film Rorschach were given priority because of the star-studded cast.
However, Kantara is being showered with love from people who have watched it. With a positive hype and increasing demand, theatres are allotting more screens for Kantara.
Now, Kantara is being dubbed in other languages for a wider release. The Hindi version is gearing up for a grand release on October 14. Ahead of the release, the makers unveiled the trailer of the film.
#KANTAARA Malayalam! Coming soon! I absolutely HAD to do this after watching the Kannada version! Do not miss this gem in the theatres when it releases across Kerala in Malayalam. @hombalefilms @PrithvirajProd @shetty_rishab pic.twitter.com/QOrBiKX8iM — Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) October 9, 2022
STORY OF KANTARA
Kantara is an action thriller written and directed by Rishab Shetty. He has also taken up the job of playing the lead role in the film. The film is about a Kambala champion played by Rishab. He is at loggerheads with a DRFO officer, played by Kishore. Kambala is an buffalo race held in Karnataka every year.
The story of Kantara is set in Keraadi in coastal Karnataka. Kantara is rooted in culture and realism.
KICHCHA SUDEEP, RAJ AND DK PRAISE KANTARA
Not just from celebrities, Kantara also been getting a shoutout from celebrities. Kichcha Sudeep was one of the first few celebrities to shower praise on the film . He wrote, "We do witness films that are good and fantastic. But rarely do we come across one that leaves us speechless. Kantara is one such film that left a huge impact on me Fantabulous performance by Rishab Shetty, which leaves no stone unturned kudos to the entire team to have faith in a plot like this Hats off Ajaneesh you are indeed a master. Congrats Hombale Films and thank you for believing in something and standing up for it (sic)."
KAANTHARA âäï¸âäï¸ðå @shetty_rishab @hombalefilms @AJANEESHB pic.twitter.com/cBcVFZsi71 — Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) October 8, 2022
Our own @actorkishore is super solid yet again! Kudos to you and the entire team of @KantaraFilm ! — Raj & DK (@rajndk) October 9, 2022
CAST AND CREW OF KANTARA
Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara also features Achyuth Kumar, Pramod Shetty and Sapthami Gowda in pivotal roles. Cinematographer Arvind S Kashyap, editors KM Prakash and Pratheek Shetty and composer B Ajaneesh Loknath are part of the technical crew. Published By: K Janani Published On: Oct 10, 2022 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | Kichcha Sudeep reviews Rishab Shetty’s Kantara, says the film left him ‘speechless’. Read post
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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 ...
Kantara by Rishab Shetty is a beautiful concoction of thrill, action and mythology. A lot has been said about how Indian cinema is losing touch with its roots and not finding original stories from ...
Kantara: Directed by Rishab Shetty. With Rishab Shetty, Kishore Kumar G., Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda. When greed paves the way for betrayal, scheming and murder, a young tribal reluctantly dons the traditions of his ancestors to seek justice.
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 ...
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 ...
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.
Review: The story begins in the 18th century when a king gives a piece of land to the tribals in exchange for peace, joy and prosperity. Centuries later, consumed by greed and selfishness, the king's successor tries to threaten villagers during Bhoota Kola to return the land. But his mysterious death puts an end to the debate.
30 Sep 2022, 3:04 am. Director: Rishab Shetty. Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore Kumar G, Achyuth Kumar. It is difficult to write a review of the Kannada film Kantara, starring Rishab Shetty, Achyuth Kumar and Kishore Kumar, among others, because an experience can only be gone through, never explained. From the trailer, it was evident that among the ...
Kantara review: Rishab Shetty's retelling of folklore is highly imaginative and immersive Kantara movie review: Rishab Shetty, who has also written and directed this film, narrates this conflict of ignorance and misunderstanding in a colourful and visually engrossing manner.
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.
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.
Kantara (transl. Mystical Forest) is a 2022 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur, under Hombale Films.The film stars Rishab Shetty in a dual role with Kambala champion who is at loggerheads with an upright forest officer, Murali (played by Kishore).. Set and filmed in Keradi in coastal Karnataka, principal ...
Sridevi S, TNN, Sep 30, 2022, 08.20 AM IST Critic's Rating: 4.0/5. Plot: Henchman Shiva (Rishab Shetty) lives in a small tribal hamlet with his mother. An unforgettable incident that he had ...
'Kantara' movie review: Rishab Shetty bats for folklore and native culture in his latest Actor-director Rishab Shetty excels in his endeavour to raise pivotal issues that affect the tribal people
Kantara is a rooted story and the Director succeeded in narrating it with good commercial elements. The initial 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes are the major highlights of the film.
Actor-director Rishab Shetty's Kantara is the latest Southern production to send viewers into raptures or numbness, as the case may be. The Kannada-language movie was released on September 30 ...
Kantara (2022) Critic Reviews and Ratings Powered by Rotten Tomatoes Rate Movie. Close Audience Score. The percentage of users who made a verified movie ticket purchase and rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Learn more. Review Submitted. GOT IT. Offers. GET $10K DISNEY GIFT CARD + MERCH image link ...
Language: Kannada. Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore Kumar and Sapthami Gowda. Director: Rishab Shetty. Star rating: 3.5/5. Hombale Films, the production house that bankrolled KGF films is back with a dynamic film called Kantara . It is a rooted, it is vibrant and it is performed so stunningly, that there are moments that leave you in goose bumps.
The villain literally sits on a chair in the middle of the battle and is unscathed. 11. After the village is almost razed down and the hero almost killed, he gets possessed by the dev and kills the villain. We want to see more of the dev but the movie ends there. The maker was reluctant showing the interesting bit.
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. Director: Rishab ShettyProducer: Vijay KiragandurCast: Rishab Shetty ...
Kannada film Kantara, written and directed by Rishab Shetty, is receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film is produced by Vijay Kirgandur of Hombale Films, who had bankrolled Yash's KGF franchise. Kantara had a limited release in other states. However, the shows have been increased across the globe due to positive word of ...