Film: Kantara: Chapter 1 

Cast: Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah, Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojari, Prakash Thuminad, Deepak Rai Panaje, Hariprashanth M G

Director: Rishab Shetty

Rating: 4 Moons

Storyline 

The story is set on the coast of ancient Karnataka during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty. The depiction of Bhuta Kola, an ancient ritualistic performance, and tribal culture is superb. The story explores Indian culture, faith, and the struggle between good and evil in a captivating and grand manner. The second half's constant twists and powerful finish will leave you stunned. The climax is mind-blowing – unexpected, intense, and spiritually charged. It showcases Indian culture and divine belief with grandeur and deep respect. Themes of Good vs. Evil, Faith, Power, and Redemption are explored deeply.

Acting

Rishab Shetty as Guliga Daiva once again proves his mastery of emotional and spiritual scenes. The divinity of his character is very effective. Rukmini Vasanth gives a remarkable performance, especially in the second half. Her character's transformation is breathtaking. Gulshan Devaiah has firmly established himself as Kulasekhar.
 

Direction

The film is excellent visually, and Rishab Shetty’s direction is on point. He has fully demonstrated his vision not only in his acting but also in direction. Every scene exudes culture, grandeur, and technical finesse. The chariot escape scene, the battle scene, and the final Daiva Avatar give goosebumps.

Dialogues

Rishab's divine chants and transformation scenes are dialogue-less yet thunderously powerful. The dialogues are good, especially in the last thirty minutes. 

Music

Music doesn't just support the narrative, it leads it. The film's background score is excellent. From the opening frame to the climax, the score elevates every scene. Gives goosebumps, especially during divine or intense action sequences. Traditional instruments are fused beautifully with modern sound design. 
 

Overall

‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ is a grand and technically strong film. It blends divinity, action, culture, and emotion into a rare cinematic experience. Bigger, bolder, and more spiritually explosive than its predecessor.