"Kantara" is a 2022 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film directed and written by Rishab Shetty. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films, the movie stars Rishab Shetty in a dual role, one as a Kambala champion at odds with an upright forest officer named Murali, portrayed by Kishore.
Set and filmed in Keradi, coastal Karnataka, principal photography commenced in August 2021. Arvind S. Kashyap served as the cinematographer, while B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the music, and the action sequences were choreographed by Vikram More. Debutant Dharani Gange Putra handled the production design.
Upon its release on 30th September 2022, the film garnered positive reviews and emerged as a major commercial success, becoming the second highest-grossing Kannada film of all time after "K.G.F: Chapter 2," also released in the same year. It stood as the fourth highest-grossing film in India in 2022 and was featured at the 54th IFFI Indian panorama section, where it received the Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award.
The plot of "Kantara" spans across different time periods, starting in 1847, highlighting the existence of a mystical forest. The story revolves around a king who seeks true happiness and encounters a holy stone in the forest guarded by Panjurli Daiva, a protective deity. The king donates a substantial portion of his land to the villagers in exchange for the stone, under the condition that his family and heirs would not reclaim the land to avoid the wrath of Guliga Daiva, a ferocious demigod.
Subsequent timelines in 1970 and 1990 reveal the consequences faced by the descendants of the king as they attempt to reclaim the forest land. Murali, a forest officer, is tasked with converting the villagers' land into a forest reserve, sparking a conflict with Shiva, a Kambala athlete, and the missing performer's son. The tension between the forest officer and the villagers escalates, leading to confrontations, tragic incidents, and hidden motives that unfold throughout the narrative.
Director Rishab Shetty drew inspiration for the film's theme from the conflict between nature and humans, reflecting the strife between forest officers and locals in his hometown during the 1990s. Filming took place in Keradi, and extensive research was conducted with tribal communities to accurately depict their culture and costumes. The movie captures the essence of the region through its detailed sets and authentic portrayal of the tribal way of life.
The music of "Kantara," composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, incorporated folk songs and traditional instruments, enriching the storytelling with elements of local culture. The soundtrack received acclaim, although a song, "Varaha Roopam," faced allegations of plagiarism, which led to a legal dispute later resolved in the movie's favor.
The film's release spanned multiple languages, from its Kannada release on 30th September 2022, followed by dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Tulu. It gained traction internationally, being the first Kannada movie released in Vietnam and expanding its reach across various regions.
"Kantara" marked its digital debut on Amazon Prime Video, and its success led to the acquisition of its satellite rights by Star India Network and Sony Max. The film's Hindi version was streamed on Netflix, and an English dubbed version was slated for release in January 2023.
Cast
- Rishab Shetty in a dual role as
- Kaadubettu Shiva, a Kambala champion, who gets possessed by Guliga Daiva and Panjurli Daiva
- Shiva's father, a Daiva Kola performer
- Sapthami Gowda as Leela
- Kishore as Muralidhar, a Deputy Range Forest Officer (D.R.F.O)
- Achyuth Kumar as Devendra Suttooru
- Pramod Shetty as Sudhakara
- Prakash Thuminad as Raampa
- Manasi Sudhir as Kamala, Shiva's mother
- Naveen D Padil as Lawyer
- Suchan Shetty as Ravi
- Swaraj Shetty as Guruva, Shiva's cousin
- Deepak Rai Panaaje as Sundara
- Shanil Guru as Bulla
- Pradeep Shetty as Mohana
- Rakshith Ramachandra Shetty as Devendra's Henchman
- Chandrakala Rao as Sheela, Sundara's Wife
- Sukanya as Ammakka, Devendra's Wife
- Sathish Acharya as Tabara, Leela's Father
- Pushparaj Bollar as Garnall Abbu
- Raghu Pandeshwar as Raghu, Forest Officer
- Mime Ramdas as Naaru
- Basuma Kodagu as Guruva's father
- Ranjan Saju as Lacchu
- Rajeev Shetty as Rajeev Bhandari
- Atish Shetty as Devendra's specially-abled son
- Radhakrishna Kumbale as a native resident
- Naveen Bondel as Demigod Interpreter
Cameo appearances
- Shine Shetty as Devendra's father
- Vinay Biddappa as the King
- Pragathi Rishab Shetty as the King's wife