So doston, after the blockbuster Kantara (2022), Rishab Shetty decided to take us back in time, all the way to 300 CE. Why? Because when one film works, our filmmakers think, “Arrey, ab toh I will make franchise, universe, part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!” 😆 And that’s how we got Kantara: Chapter 1.
But the question is simple – is this film a divine masterpiece, or is it just overhyped headache? Let’s find out in my KRK style review.
Act 1 – The First Half (aka the ultimate sleeping pill)
Bhai, let me be brutally honest. The first half is torture.
- The film opens with grandeur – huge landscapes, forest shots, rituals, drums, fire, loud BGM – sab kuch epic dikhta hai. You’re thinking, “Wah, ab toh bawaal hone wala hai.”
- But after that, pace goes to snail mode. Long shots, slow dialogues, endless rituals… it feels like you’re watching a government-funded documentary called Ancient Tribes of Karnataka.
- Characters walk in forest, stare at each other, give lectures about land, gods, demons… bas chal raha hai. Nothing moves.
Audience inside the theatre? Half are checking WhatsApp, half are praying for interval. One uncle even asked loudly: “Bhaiya, yeh film hai ya puja-paath ka live telecast?” Act 2 – Second Half (goosebumps factory)
Then, miracle happens! After interval, the film wakes up like Hanuman after eating Sanjeevani.
- The tempo rises. Suddenly rituals become fiery, action sequences kick in, and emotions get stronger.
- Climax – Wah bhai wah! The final 30–40 minutes are pure goosebumps. Fire rituals, war cries, Rishab Shetty in full form, music blasting, camera swirling… it’s an EXPERIENCE. This is the section where audience claps, whistles, even forgets that first half existed.
So basically, Kantara: Chapter 1 is two movies in one – first half = headache, second half = adrenaline injection.
Performances
- Rishab Shetty – Once again, he proves he is the backbone. His eyes, intensity, and body language are top class. He doesn’t even need dialogues sometimes; his presence itself screams power.
- Rukmini Vasanth – Decent. She shines only after interval, where her character gets some weight. Before that, she is just there in background like set property.
- Gulshan Devaiah – The villain. Honestly, 50% scary, 50% cartoon. In one scene, he looks like a proper menace. In next, he looks like a TV serial villain from Naagin. Inconsistent performance.
- Supporting Cast – Kishore and others do their job well in ritual scenes, but nobody leaves lasting impression.
Music & Background Score
Biggest strength of the film. Ajaneesh Loknath’s BGM is the true hero.
- Weak scenes in first half get saved ONLY because of background score.
- Ritual scenes + BGM = goosebumps.
- The climax, with music at full blast, literally shakes the theatre.
Without this soundtrack, I swear, audience would have run away in interval itself.
Cinematography & Visuals
Visually, the film is GRAND. Forests, fire rituals, temples, costumes – sab kuch looks epic. Cinematographer Arvind Kashyap deserves applause.
But problem? Too much VFX overdose. Some shots look like PS5 game cutscenes. In trying to make it “bigger,” they lost the raw grounded feel of original Kantara.
Story & Screenplay
Now let’s talk about asli problem.
- Story is predictable. Nothing shocking, nothing fresh. If you saw Kantara 1, you already know the flavor.
- Screenplay is uneven. First half slower than government office queue. Second half faster than Virat Kohli chasing target.
- Dialogues are hit or miss. Sometimes powerful, sometimes cringy enough to make you laugh unintentionally.
- Unnecessary comedy scenes are thrown randomly, breaking the mythic tone.
Basically, the script doesn’t match the grandeur of visuals.
Comparison with Original Kantara
Original Kantara (2022) worked because:
- It was raw, rooted, earthy.
- Story was simple but engaging.
- Emotions + action + rituals balanced perfectly.
But Kantara: Chapter 1 tries too hard to be “epic” and “big budget.” In that process, it sometimes feels hollow. The soul is missing in the first half
KRK Final Rating: 3.25 / 5 Stars
Verdict – Kantara: Chapter 1 is like a bad train journey.
- First half: train stuck on red signal – boring, frustrating.
- Second half: train suddenly goes 200 km/hr – thrilling, exciting.
Not a masterpiece, not a flop. Half headache, half brilliance. Worth one watch only for the climax and visuals.
“Kantara: Chapter 1 is 1 hour of torture followed by 40 minutes of magic. If you survive the first half, the second half will reward you. Otherwise, better stay home and watch Kantara 1 again.”
