Anticipation for the Kantara prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, skyrocketed after the release of the film's trailer on Monday, marking the occasion of the first day of Navaratri. Following the premiere of the trailer, a poster went viral on social media, featuring sacred guidelines to follow up until the film's release.
The poster mentioned that all those who wished to watch Kantara: Chapter 1 had to avoid smoking, drinking liquor, and consuming meat until October 2. The poster further encouraged the audience to sign up for the same to receive a certificate at the end of the fasting period.
On Monday, at a press meet held in Karnataka, Rishab Shetty was asked whether the guidelines came on behalf of the film's production house. Calling the poster “completely baseless,” Rishab was quick to distance himself and the production house from the narrative. “When it comes to food or lifestyle, it is every individual’s personal choice. Nobody has the right to dictate it. That poster had nothing to do with us,” he firmly stated.
He explained that while we noticed the poster circulating online, he chose not to react immediately. Instead, he said he brought it to the notice of the production house, which had no connection to it. “This is the trend now, someone creates a narrative, it circulates, and discussions follow. People bring in their own interpretations, sometimes even to gain popularity. But that doesn’t mean it has any link to the film,” Rishab pointed out.
Kantara: Chapter 1 also stars Rishab Shetty in the lead role as Kadabettu Shiva. Gulshan Devaiah, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram and Pramod Shetty are also a part of the film's cast. On the technical front, the film has cinematography by Arvind Kashyap, editing by Suresh Mallaiah and music composed by B Ajaneesh Loknath.
Kantara: Chapter 1 is a prequel to the 2022 film, exploring the origins of the mystical traditions and ancestral conflicts that were introduced in the original story. The film takes viewers on a journey into the past, delving deeper into the mythological roots that shaped the events of the first film.
