Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, opened in theatres worldwide today. Following up on the massive success of Kantara (2022), the new film goes back in time to the Kadamba dynasty in pre-colonial Karnataka, exploring the origins of the Bhuta Kola ritual that eventually shaped Kaadubettu Shiva’s story.
For the unversed, Manikandan has voiced Rishab Shetty's character in the Tamil version of the film. Ahead of the release, Rishab Shetty spoke to Behindwoods about his admiration for actor Manikandan and their collaboration on the film. “Manikandan is my favourite. I really admire his talent and performances. He is not just another mimicry artist; he has a rare gift. He doesn’t just replicate a voice; he brings in the essence of a person’s body language along with it,” Rishab said. “I once saw him brilliantly demonstrate how Ajith’s voice evolved over the years, and he can effortlessly recreate the voices of any actor.”
The director-actor revealed that he had always wanted to work with Manikandan, and Kantara: Chapter 1 finally gave him the chance. “I felt he could dub for one of my characters in the film. When I reached out, he initially told me he wasn’t part of the dubbing union, which meant we couldn’t take him on board right away. But we made sure to follow all the formalities, like giving an official letter, seeking permission, paying the fee, and finally, he dubbed for my character. He has done a phenomenal job.”
Rishab also recalled a memorable moment from their first meeting. “I told him I was his big fan, and he replied that he was an ardent admirer of mine. That moment was very special. He’s not only an exceptional artist but also a wonderful human being, and I feel so happy to have worked with him,” he said.
For Rishab, Manikandan’s dubbing brought something extra to the table. “Usually, when a dubbing artist lends their voice, they focus on delivering the lines. But when a performer dubs, their voice performs for the character—and that’s exactly what Manikandan brings.”
In Kantara: Chapter 1, Rishab once again plays the lead, with Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram joining the ensemble cast, alongside Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojari, Prakash Thuminad, Deepak Rai Panaje, Hariprashanth M G, Shaneel Gautham, and Naveen Bondel. The technical crew features Ajaneesh Loknath’s music, Arvind Kashyap’s cinematography, and Suresh Mallaiah’s editing.