Rishab Shetty doesn’t just return with a film; he returns with a legend. The trailer for Kantara: A Legend, Chapter 1, released on Monday, promises a sweeping mythological epic that blends folklore, faith, and fundamental human conflict against the backdrop of coastal Karnataka’s dense wilderness.
This film is a prequel to Rishab Shetty’s 2022 hit Kantara. It takes us roughly 1500 years back to the Kadamba dynasty era to explore the origins of Kaadubettu Shiva, a figure worshipped, feared, and remembered in the region’s ancestral lore. This isn’t just a continuation of a franchise; it is a cultural exploration. It tells the story of how sacred stones became sites of faith, how deities chose to stay among mortals, and how blood and sacrifice shaped dharma itself.
The trailer sets a foreboding tone with its opening line: “Whenever mankind strays into adharma, Eshwara descends.” This is a sacred warning—never step into Kantara. It suggests that the forest is not just a setting; it is a living, breathing guardian. The mythic dialogue fragments speak of vengeance and duty, including a chilling vow to erase dishonour “with the blood of Kantara.”
Rishab Shetty as Kaadubettu Shiva, represents the duality of man and myth. He is joined by Gulshan Devaiah, whose subtle intensity hints at a role filled with resistance and intrigue. Rukmini Vasanth plays a crucial emotional role, suggesting that even legends are shaped by love and loss, and there is senior Jayaram, among the ensemble.
Behind the camera, cinematographer Arvind Kashyap creates visuals that turn the forest into a character of its own; it is mist-laden, fiery, and alive with a spiritual presence. Composer B Ajaneesh Loknath builds on his acclaimed work from the first film, adding a score that shifts between trance-like devotion and intense fervor.
Much of Kantara’s cultural impact in 2022 came from its use of ritual performance, especially the Bhoota Kola, to ground storytelling in lived tradition. Kantara Chapter 1 expands this into a sweeping origin story, positioning itself as both as a spectacle and a preservation of regional folklore