Ace cricketer KL Rahul is the latest in the long line of celebrities and politicians who have lauded Rishab Shetty's latest period drama Kantara: Chapter 1. The batter took his time out to watch the time and share his thoughts on his Instagram handle.
KL Rahul, who hails from Mangalore, Karnataka, has always revealed how he is a big fan of Kantara. Sharing that he was "blown away" by the magic that the director-actor created in the film, he also expressed his admiration for his work. Rahul further called it a film that beautifully represents the beliefs of the people of Karnataka.
Sharing a video of the film’s motion title on his Instagram story, he wrote, “Just watched Kantara. Blown away by the magic Rishab Shetty has created yet again. All heart and beautifully represents the people and the belief of Mangaluru.”
This isn’t the first time KL Rahul has expressed his love for Kantara. In one of the IPL matches this year, while playing at Chinnaswamy Stadium, KL Rahul celebrated his team’s victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Kantara style. After sealing the match with a winning six, he drew a circle on the pitch and firmly stomped his bat at its centre, like Rishab Shetty does with a sword in the film. After the game, Rahul revealed that his celebration was inspired by one of his favourite films, Kantara. He shared that the act symbolised his deep connection to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, his home ground, and conveyed that no one understands or commands the field there better than he does.
Kantara: Chapter 1, written and directed by Rishab Shetty has been winning unanimous praise for its narrative, performances, storytelling, craft and visual extravaganza and is running with full-house crowds in Karnataka and other states. The film has already has zoomed past the Rs 335 crore mark worldwide in a four-day extended opening weekend. It is produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films.
Our CE review of the film read, "Even amid myths, the film remains human. Berme’s growing bond with Kanakavathi softens the intensity, while comic moments from Prakash Tumminad, Rakesh Poojary and others provide relief without breaking the spell but though occasionally they pull focus from the main plot."
Kantara: Chapter 1, a prequel to the 2022 Rishab Shetty directorial, Kantara, also features the director in the lead role as Kaadubettu Shiva. Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram are new additions to the cast, who are seen in prominent roles. Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojari, Prakash Thuminad, Deepak Rai Panaje, Hariprashanth MG, Shaneel Gautham and Naveen Bondel round out the cast of the film.
Kantara: Chapter 1, set during the Kadamba dynasty in pre-colonial Karnataka, follows the Bhuta Kola ritual, which became deeply rooted in the culture, laying the groundwork for the emergence of Kaadubettu Shiva. It dives into the reason behind the disappearance of Shiva's father and the history of Kantara - the forests and the deities in the area.