Movie Name : Kantara Chapter 1
Release Date : Oct 2, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram
Director : Rishab Shetty
Producers : Vijay Kiragandur, Chaluve Gowda
Music Director : B. Ajaneesh Loknath
Cinematographer : Arvind S. Kashyap
Editor : Suresh Mallaiah
Related Links : Trailer
Kantara Chapter 1, the prequel to the blockbuster Kantara has now arrived in theatres amidst massive expectations. Let’s see if this Rishab Shetty’s film lived up to the expectations.
Story:
Kantara: Chapter 1 deals with the backstory and essence of the Kantara land and the differences that arise between a tribe and the Bangra kingdom. Kulasekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) becomes the new king of Bangra, while Berme (Rishab Shetty) leads the Kantara tribe. Berme, along with his fellowmen, secretly enters Bangra, and the rest of the story showcases the face-off between the tribe and the Bangra kingdom.
Plus Points:
Kantara: Chapter 1 is inarguably one of the best films to have come out in recent years in terms of technical finesse. Hombale Films, together with Rishab Shetty, scaled up the budget, delivering a stunning visual spectacle as every frame brims with richness and is a treat to watch. Especially the VFX works featuring animals are spellbinding, and a huge applause to the team for pulling off such a fantastic technical output.
Rishab Shetty is the heart and soul of Kantara 1 without an ounce of doubt. More than the director, the actor in him shines superbly, truly living up to his National Award-winning stature. His portrayal during the divine possession and trance sequences showcases the depth of his exceptional acting abilities.
Rukmini Vasanth is the surprise package of the prequel. The actress isn’t reduced merely to the hero’s love interest, and her role gains prominence as the film reaches the climax. Rukmini seized the opportunity with both hands and amplified the impact of the climax.
The interval block and the extended climax war portions filled with divine elements are sure to make the audience go bonkers. Not just the budget, but Rishab Shetty also magnified his vision and ambition, and the concluding moments are nothing short of madness.
The action sequences are terrific, to say the least. The chariot chase sequence in the first half is superbly conceived with high-quality visual effects. Some comedy moments land well. Jayaram did a decent job.
Minus Points:
There are decent scenes in the first half, too, but too much time is taken for the establishment of the main characters and world-building. The pacing dips in multiple segments of the film, with dragged-out portions, and the editing team could have shortened them for a much better outcome.
Gulshan Devaiah is a good actor, but his role doesn’t quite hit the mark and could have been designed better. A lot of effort has gone into the writing, with the film highlighting several tribes, different forms of deities, the barter system, and more. However, the film packs so much information into very few sequences, making things rushed.
While some unnecessary sequences are prolonged, things that truly needed more screen time come across as rushed and fast-paced. Had this aspect been balanced well, the film could have done complete justice to the extensive research work.
Technical Aspects:
Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score is good, but at times it becomes loud. The songs are just decent, though. Arvind S Kashyap’s cinematography is remarkable, and he captured the action part brilliantly. The production values are stupendous as every penny spent is visible on the screen.
Rishab Shetty, as a director, did a decent job, but as mentioned earlier, his scintillating performance and scaled-up ambition to tell this folklore as a grand visual spectacle make the film a truly satisfactory outing.
Verdict:
On the whole, Kantara: Chapter 1 is a captivating action drama that has a good amount of goosebump-inducing moments. The film will win us over with its standout interval and climax portions, divine elements, jaw-dropping visuals, and mind-boggling VFX. Rishab Shetty is outstanding, while Rukmini Vasanth is solid in a well-written role. The slow pacing at times, dragged-out portions, and the overstuffed scenes with too much information act as the key drawbacks. Nonetheless Kantara Chapter 1 is a theatre-worthy film for its technical brilliance.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team