🔥Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) – Rishab Shetty’s Mythic Epic Returns with Cast, Plot, Release Date & Folklore Review

🔥 From the powerhouse Hombale Films, the studio that gave us KGF: Chapter 1 & 2 and Salaar, comes a legend reborn — Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1. Directed, written, and headlined by the visionary Rishab Shetty, this prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara dives deep into the origins of faith, folklore, and divine guardianship.

Mark your calendars — the saga unfolds on 2 October 2025, hitting screens worldwide in IMAX, 4DX, and D-Box formats, making it a truly grand experience for fans.

🌊 A Divine Epic from the Shores of Coastal Karnataka

Set during the Kadambas of Banavasi era in pre-colonial Karnataka, Kantara: Chapter 1 takes audiences back centuries before the events of the original film. Here, myth and man are inseparable — the Bhuta Kola ritual is not just performance, but prophecy.

Rishab Shetty transforms into Berme, a fierce Naga Sadhu wielding supernatural powers, torn between protecting sacred land and battling forces that seek to desecrate it. His words echo with timeless rage: “This land is not ours to take — it belongs to the divine.”

🎭 The Stellar Cast & Characters

• Rishab Shetty as Berme – the spiritual warrior and divine vessel.

• Rukmini Vasanth as Kanakavathi – bringing grace and resilience to the tale.

• Gulshan Devaiah as Kulashekara – a menacing force of conflict.

• Jayaram, Pramod Shetty, Rakesh Poojari, Prakash Thuminad, Deepak Rai Panaje — rounding out a powerful ensemble.

The characters are woven into a saga where love, betrayal, and divinity collide.

🎶 Music That Awakens the Spirit

No Kantara story is complete without music that rattles the soul. National Award–winning composer B. Ajaneesh Loknath returns with hauntingly primal beats, invoking drums, chants, and melodies that tie man to the spirit world. If the first film’s music shook audiences, this promises to thunder louder.

🎥 Production & Vision

Filming began in November 2023, with the first look released on 27 November 2023, igniting anticipation. The cinematography by Arvind Kashyap captures the dense forests, ancient rituals, and spiritual warfare in sweeping, immersive frames. Edited by Suresh Mallaiah, the film blends high-octane action with spiritual depth.

Budgeted at a massive ₹125 crore, the film is one of Kannada cinema’s most ambitious projects.

🌍 Global Distribution & Streaming

Kantara: Chapter 1 will enjoy a pan-Indian release, with distribution by AA Films, Mythri Movie Distributors LLP, Geetha Arts, and others, ensuring it reaches audiences across languages and borders.

The post-theatrical streaming rights have already been locked by Amazon Prime Video for a staggering ₹125 crore, confirming its global digital dominance.

⚡ Why This Saga Matters

Kantara (2022) was not just a film — it was an experience that resonated with millions due to its authenticity, rich traditions, and divine storytelling. With Chapter 1, Rishab Shetty expands the canvas, offering us a story of origins, power, and man’s eternal bond with the divine land he inhabits.

As the trailer reminds us:“Some wars are not fought for kingdoms. They are fighting for faith.”

📅 Release Date

Kantara: Chapter 1 roars into cinemas on 2 October 2025 — a date destined to echo with chants, drums, and the clash of the divine.

✨ In short: Expect goosebumps, expect fire, expect a mythic cinematic storm — Rishab Shetty’s Kantara is not just back, it’s going to redefine how Indian folklore is told on screen.