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A visually forceful folk-myth action drama that builds to a genuinely electrifying climax. It’s uneven in the middle and some character writing draws criticism, but the atmosphere, performances, and ritual imagery make it memorable.
Where to watch: Buy
Fri · 2h 27m
Director: Rishab Shetty
Starring: Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore
Shiva, a tribal vagabond lives with his mother in hamlet, stays away from the traditional Daivaradhane and Bhoota Kola legacy due to an unforgettable childhood incident. He is happy loafing around with his friends and doing petty jobs for his landlord. When Forest officer Murali enters the scene, it gives a fresh dimension to the man-vs-nature fight. Can Shiva save the forest from Murali? Or is Murali just a dummy bait cast by bigger fish?
Rishab Shetty
Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore
A visually forceful folk-myth action drama that builds to a genuinely electrifying climax. It’s uneven in the middle and some character writing draws criticism, but the atmosphere, performances, and ritual imagery make it memorable.
Kantara is at its best when it leans into the elemental: forest, ritual, possession, and the clash between local belief and state power. The film has a strong sense of place and a confident grip on spectacle, especially in the final stretch, where it becomes the kind of theatrical experience people talk about after the credits roll.
Its middle section is less consistent. The romance and some character beats feel underwritten, and the film’s politics and gender dynamics can be hard to ignore. Even so, the craft is often striking, with sound, performance, and ritual imagery doing a lot of heavy lifting.
If you’re drawn to cinema that mixes folklore with action and treats landscape as destiny, this is worth seeing. If you need tonal discipline and clean writing throughout, the hype may outpace the film for you.
chive (1.5★) · 726 likes
Before going in for the movie, I'd read rave reviews about how amazing the theatre experience was, and later about a few problematic aspects of the film. I usually try to avoid reviews and go in fresh for the film myself, but this time since I caught the film on the literal last day of the Kannada version show, I couldn't avoid the reviews and articles about the film. After watching the film, what bothered me the most was how
Michael James (4★) · 246 likes
Man o Man.. Rishabh Shetty simply nails it, delivering a fascinating mix of myth n masala. If his writing-direction was terrific, he takes the game a further notch up with his show stealing thunderous performance. His beasty thunderous actions with those terrific sound design were just kickass. Along with the spectacular visuals and soundtrack, they simply amp up the whole excitement factor. The narrative seamlessly blends mythological folklore and rooted native culture, absorbing one straightaway into its world and keeping engaged
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (4★) · 179 likes
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL AQUI A PASSAGE TO INDIA 3D This is one of—if not the—most epic eco-conscious films you’re likely to see, blending myth, folklore, and action into a sprawling, ambitious story about a village fighting to protect its sacred land from a forest officer intent on turning it into a government reserve. And that’s just scratching the surface of what this film is doing. From nearly every angle, this is a grand production. The cinematography is frequently breathtaking, especially… more
Kibriya⚡ (4.5★) · 157 likes
"WHHHHHOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA!" No, this is not only my reaction after watching this film but also the soul of the movie. I am once again reminded of Vetrimaaran - "The more ethnic you become, the more international your film becomes." Rishabh Shetty hits it out of the park with his terrific acting, writing and direction. Taking Tulu culture at its peak on the big screen. The last 20 minutes terrified me and I couldn't believe what I just witnessed. Already getting widely
Prithwish Roy (3.5★) · 151 likes
Brb gonna set the Guliga scream as my alarm ringtone so that I can wake up before time.
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