Kantara movie review: Rishab Shetty's hypnotic blend of action and mythology is one of the best in Indian cinema

Kantara movie review: Rishab Shetty brings an original tale rooted in Indian culture and mythology that surely ranks among the best efforts by an Indian filmmaker in recent times.

Kantara had received endorsements from people far more accomplished in the world of cinema by the time this review was written, with many more National Awards than this writer could ever hope to win. So I'll admit that I went into the theater with a preconceived notion about the movie, hoping for the best. Kantara, on the other hand, completely blew me away. This powerful film's beautiful fusion of action, thrill, faith, and mythology ranks among the best efforts by any Indian filmmaker in recent times.

Also read: Movie review: The Banshees of Inisherin

There has been much discussion about how Indian cinema is losing touch with its roots and failing to find original stories from the heartland. Because of its diversity and vastness, this land is a veritable treasure trove of stories. Kantara demonstrates what is possible when a good storyteller decides to tell an original story rooted in the land and its culture while bringing the expertise and technical finesse of good filmmaking with him. Kantara is the age-old story of man vs. nature, villagers vs. zamindars, and the desire for land and money. But it is so much more because it seamlessly and fluidly weaves elements from coastal Karnataka's culture and mythology into the story.

The plot revolves around a village in south Karnataka where a king granted the villagers land 150 years ago. When the story begins in 1990, an upright forest officer (played brilliantly by Kishore) is attempting to limit tree felling and hunting on that land, which is now a reserve forest. To make matters worse, the villagers believe that the land was bestowed upon them as a gift from their Daiva, the demigod protector of the forest, and are thus unwilling to listen to this outsider. The village strongman Shiva (Rishab Shetty) is leading the charge against this, and he is supported by the king's descendant, the village's sahib (Achyuth Kumar).

It's difficult to pin down what makes Kantara tick. Let us begin with the script. It takes a common story and adds a unique local flavor to it, grounding it in Indian culture and making it stand out from other similar tales. Then there's the real icing on the cake: Arvind Kashyap's breathtakingly beautiful cinematography. The way Arvind's lens brought Kantara's folklore to life is a lesson for storytellers. Some of the buffalo racing scenes at the beginning of the film, as well as all of the Daiva festivities and visuals, deserve special mention.

Ajaneesh Loknath's background score and music perfectly complement the camera work. The use of western instruments in some scenes depicting Indian festivities was a risk that paid off handsomely. The score brings out the myths, culture, and feel of the land where Kantara is set, transporting you so completely into the story that you forget you're in a movie theater in another part of the country.

Rishab Shetty's performance as Shiva is powerful as this unstoppable force who will go to any length to protect his village and his people. His well-choreographed and slick action sequences would fit in with the best Hollywood films. Kishore, on the other hand, plays Muralidhar, the calm, simmering forest officer at odds with Shiva. It's a pleasure to watch the actor bring such intensity to his scenes.

This review would be incomplete if I did not mention how colorful and glamorous the film depicts local festivities and rituals. The colors are vibrant, the sounds are soothing, and the portrayal is powerful. All of the scenes involving the Daiva are gripping, and some are even terrifying. On more than one occasion, the Daiva's guttural scream gives you goosebumps. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that the climax, despite being a typical masala Indian film, elevates the film to another level.

Kantara, like Sohum Shah's Tumbbad four years ago, demonstrates that earthy, rooted folk tales from India can be turned into compelling cinema. Kantara, in fact, continues Tumbbad's legacy. Despite the fact that it was well received by everyone who saw it. Tumbbad only grossed Rs. 13 crore at the box office. Kantara, on the other hand, is rapidly approaching the 100-crore mark. It is a significant film because its success will determine whether other filmmakers in India will dare to tell unique stories.

Kantara

Genres Mystery, Action, Thriller

Stars Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, Pramod Shetty, Achyuth Kumar

Directors Anirudh Mahesh, Arun S Mani, K. M. Prakash, M. R. Rajakrishnan, Rishab Shetty

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?