Kantara
Director: Rishab Shetty
Cast: Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Sapthami Gowda, Pramod Shetty, and Manasi Sudhir
Review of the film Kantara: One of the best works of Indian cinema in recent memory, Rishab Shetty tells a unique story with roots in Indian mythology and culture.
One of the best films made by an Indian director in recent memory is this potent combination of action, thrill, faith, and mythology.
The narrative centers on a village in south Karnataka that was granted land 150 years ago by a king. When the story opens in 1990, the area is now a reserve forest, and an honorable forest officer (played brilliantly by Kishore) is attempting to stop hunting and tree-felling. To make matters more difficult, the villagers are unwilling to listen to this outsider because they think that their Daiva, the demigod protector of the forest, gave them the land as a favor. The village’s sahib (Achyuth Kumar), a descendant of the king, is supporting the village strongman Shiva (Rishab Shetty) in his fight against this.
Storytellers can learn from the way Arvind’s lens has brought the folklore of Kantara to life. Particular recognition should be given to a few of the film’s opening buffalo racing scenes, as well as to all of the celebration and Daiva visuals.
On the other end of the spectrum, Kishore plays the cool, simmering forest officer Muralidhar, who is at odds with Shiva. The actor puts so much intensity into his scenes that it’s a treat to watch. Rishab Shetty plays Shiva 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.
Without mentioning how colorfully and glamorously the movie depicts the regional celebrations and customs, this review would be lacking. The depiction is strong, the colors vibrant, and the sounds lovely. Every scene with the Daiva is interesting, and some of them are even spooky. You get chills more than once when you hear the Daiva’s guttural scream. I won’t give anything away, but the movie takes a step forward in the climax, even though it’s a typical masala Indian movie.
In actuality, Kantara continues Tumbbad’s legacy. Despite receiving positive feedback from every viewer. Tumbbad’s box office earnings were a mere ₹13 crore. In the meantime, Kantara is rapidly approaching the 100-crore milestone. It is a significant movie because its reception will dictate whether or not other Indian filmmakers will take risks and tell unique tales.