Kantara A Legend Chapter 1 is an inspiring spiritual drama that unveils the extraordinary life of a yogi dedicated to truth, inner peace, and self-discovery. The film follows Ajey’s journey from his early struggles to his transformation into a guiding light for those seeking wisdom and enlightenment. Through his story, audiences witness the courage, devotion, and discipline required to pursue a higher path.
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A detailed review of Kantara A Legend Chapter 1 (2025) — exploring its storyline, performances, direction, and why it’s a must-watch mythological epic.
The movie emphasizes values such as meditation, compassion, simplicity, and resilience, showing how Ajey’s unwavering dedication to spirituality shapes not only his life but also touches the lives of others. It reminds viewers that true happiness and fulfillment are found within, rather than in material success or worldly recognition.
Visually captivating and enriched with a soulful soundtrack, the film immerses viewers in Ajey’s serene world. Each scene is thoughtfully crafted to evoke reflection, encouraging audiences to contemplate their own journey toward purpose and inner harmony.
*Kantara A Legend Chapter 1** is a cinematic exploration of the soul. It inspires viewers to embrace faith, patience, and self-discipline, guiding them toward their own path of enlightenment and lasting inner peace.
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Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
Mysterious forest: Chapter 1) is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language epic mythological action film written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films. The film stars Rishab Shetty along with Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah. A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara, the story delves deeper into the origins of the tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first film.
Set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the film explores the ancient roots of the Buta Kola ritual and the lore and history explored in the first film released in 2022. Like its predecessor, the prequel blends regional folklore, spirituality, and action, continuing the saga of man's relationship with nature and the divine.
Filming began in November 2023. The first look and teaser was released on 27 November 2023.The publicity poster was designed by Kaani Studio. B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the soundtrack and background score. The film was released on 2 October 2025, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra. Like its predecessor, the film received positive reviews from critics and became a massive success at the box office.
Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 is currently the second-highest grossing Kannada film of all time, highest grossing Indian film of 2025 and also ranks among highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
Kantara: Chapter 1 Movie Review
Most of us who saw Kantara in 2022 didn’t have an option but to overlook the simplicity of the uneven narrative, because the climax sequence was nothing like we had seen on the big screen before. Seeing Rishab Shetty perform the Bhoota Kola, to put it simply, took our breath away.
3 years later, he is back with more. But as the saying goes, it’s not always better.
Set in 4th century CE, Chapter 1 tells the story of Berme, a young man from the jungles of Kantara, and how earthly live and divinity both lead him toward bringing ancient deities alive. We had met these spirits in the original film; you might recall Panjurli and Guliga.
This time however, Berme isn’t a simpleton disconnected with his culture and roots. An extra-long exposition-laden voice-over, about old kings, their greed and battles against the local tribes brings us to the birth of Berme. An adopted baby who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, raised deep in the forests.
Simultaneously, you also meet the ancient Royals, who replace the zamindars from the original. Blinded by their power and privilege, the kings have always feuded with tribal communities, and have increased their riches by imposing unfair taxes on spice trade.
Portogese and Arabs are on Indian shores buying black pepper, bay leaves, turmeric, turning a profit for generations of evil Bangra Kingdom. They steal from the forests, enslave its people, and are clearly the very image of what a divine power will eventually come down to earth to eradicate.
Residents of Kantara and the Kings of Bangra however, do not know where the most bountiful Eshwara’s Garden of Bloom is where more of this spice comes from. Enter the Kadapa tribe.
These even more ferocious people in black face paint dwell even deeper in the forest, and using black magic, have gained control over the garden of bloom, and have managed to misuse the powers of the Daivas to their advantage.
Look, there is a LOT happening in this film, we haven’t even BEGUN to talk about the celestial sub-plot. To bring all of this story to the big screen, Rishab Shetty teams up with production designer Banglan, who crafts deeply researched sets- cities, villages, deep forest, caves- at par with what one might see in bigger productions like Game Of Thrones, Wheel Of Time, Megalopolis.
Cinematographer Arvind S Kashyap returns to do justice to the scale and create each frame with a precision that gives the film its transcendental vibe. This isn’t a mere story, this is an epic. A tale for the times, that Chapter 1 is intended to be, requires the camera to look at its subjects with a devotion to make them larger than life, mythical, lionising even the smallest of characters and plot points.
There are some chase sequences Rishab Shetty directs in the city market with his immense crew, which should be studied frame by frame for their technical achievements.
As the film expands in scale, however, it rapidly goes haywire in its narrative structure. As too many short stories and sub-plot are piled on top of each other in quick succession, the screenplay begins to sway further and further away from the film’s philosophy.
A philosophy that is already buried too deeply underneath the visual splendour on display. In 2022, Rishab’s Shetty’s Shiva had an internal journey that created a deeply satisfying, flawed and humane arc, from a sinner to a man who finds God, it felt straight out of scripture, paying homage to the ancient cultures the film borrowed from.
The hero’s journey was more defined, and each time the story meandered, there was a structure that kept bringing it back on-course.
Gulshan Deviah is one my most favorite performers. In his Kannada debut, he plays the loafer king Kulsekhara, kind of mirroring Shiva from the original. Except Kulashekhara doesnt pay heed to the many opportunities to course correct, drunk with power and literally on alcohol.
The character isn’t novel, think “evil king” and the first five things that come to mind. Gulshan is adequate, but his part in Guns and Gulabs had more to offer. His sister, Kanakavathi is played by Rukmini Vasanth is a far more interesting foil to Berme,
who is instantly smitten by her beauty, momentarily even forgetting she is from the same family that enslaves his people. Caught between tradition and herown attraction to this rebellious leader, Kanakavathi is at once a cultural ambassador, yet a colonist, but maybe even a reformer?
The films however is designed around Rishab Shetty, who, of course, is a force to be reckoned with. Unlike Shiva, Berme is more deified in this origin story, nary a shade of gray to be found. When the spirit of Guliga does possess him, the actor goes many steps ahead in designing a spectacle for his viewers, Rudra Guliga, Agni Guliga and many others making an appearance.
Watching him on a big screen, as that primordial scream resonates around the theatres bouncing off walls entering your body, the experience is electric, presented in a fashion few others have dared to touch. The Bhuta Kola performance is bewitching and some sequences where Berme is just normal human Berme, the action choreography is so majestic you want to stand up and applaud.
But as more and more layers are added on, you move farther nad farther away from the baseline enquiry of the film- settlers vs natives, and how slow or rapid does change need to be for customs, practices and native civilisations to survive while acknowledging the need to evolve with the times. Does evil ever really truly change shape? The magic realism that might have provided an answer to this debate, is submerged by the violence.
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Conclusion
As the lights came on with the end credits, I realised I had watch the film in a fully packed theatre. I also noticed, and this is no exaggeration, 100% of the occupants there, except me, were men, begging the question,
who did the trailer of this film speak to? Go figure it out for yourself, Kantara: Chapter 1 is now in movie theatres. Watch in Kannada if possible!
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