Kantara: Chapter 1

Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (transl. Mysterious Forest: Chapter 1) is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language epic mythological action drama film co-written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films. The film stars Rishab Shetty in a four roles as Berme, Mayakara, Annappa and Kaadubettu Shiva, along with Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah. A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara, the story delves deeper into the origins of the tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first film. Despite the release of the predecessor, this film is considered to be the first chapter of the franchise.

Set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the prequel blends regional folklore and divinity into a narrative that explores man's relationship with nature. Filming began in November 2023. The first look and the teaser were released on 27 November 2023, respectively. B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the soundtrack and background score. The film was released on 2 October 2025, coinciding with Dussehra.

Like its predecessor, the film received positive reviews from critics and the audience, who praised the visuals and the performance of the cast, and became a commercial success at the box office. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is currently the second-highest grossing Kannada film of all time, second highest grossing Indian film of 2025 and also ranks among highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

Plot

After Annappa (Rishab Shetty), Kaadubettu Shiva's father, disappears during the Buta Kola ritual in 1970 in the mysterious circle of the forest, a young Shiva questions it in front of his friends and family, to which a villager responds that the circle is a "dhantha kathe", or legend. It's said that Goddess Parvathi herself created a beautiful garden for her husband Eeshwara for his meditation. Eeshwara, along with his Bhootha Ganas, Panjurli, Guliga, Huli Daiva, Nandigone, and Chavundi (not to be confused with Chamundi) descended to earth to guard the garden.

The story begins during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty, during the 4th century CE. Vijayendra, the tyrannical king of Bangra, is building a granite temple for which he recruits the villagers from Kantara as its builders. But due to harsh working conditions and a worker, Jabbanna, accidentally mutilating his feet, Mayakara helps Jabbanna and the others escape, making Vijayendra infuriated. Vijayendra orders the execution of Mayakara (also Rishab Shetty), a fisherman, and discovers a pouch of precious spices that sparks his desire to seize the sacred spice garden located within the Kantara forest. When he enters the forest, the ganas of Eeshwara and guardian daivas, Panjurli and Guliga, manifest and kill him. His son, Rajashekara, traumatised by his father's death, decrees that no one should enter the forest following his coronation. He is portrayed as a just ruler and fathers two children: Kulashekhara, who grows up reckless and indulgent, and Kanakavathi, the more loyal and obedient child.

In the village of Kantara, a sacred well holds a secret. A young boy believed to be born of divine will is found inside and adopted by Jabbanna and Baidi, a tribal woman, who names him Berme (again Rishab Shetty). As Berme grows up, he ventures beyond the forest and into the Bangra kingdom's port after an encounter with the newly crowned Kulashekhara and his minister, Bhogendra. There, he and his companions discover that the spices from the forest are being exploited through barter trade. Berme decides to cultivate and trade spices independently to support his people with Kanakavathi's permission.

Berme and Kanakavathi develop a romantic connection. However, Kulashekhara is angered by Berme's defiance and growing influence. He sends soldiers to punish the Kantara tribe, but they are defeated. Kulashekhara retaliates with a larger attack on the village. During the assault, Baidi is killed, and Guliga emerges from the sacred well to possess Berme. Empowered, Guliga kills Kulashekhara in a manner resembling Vijayendra's death.

Despite Kulashekhara's death, unrest continues. Rajashekara returns to the throne with Kanakavathi. During preparations for a Brahmakalasha ritual, the temple's Shivalinga cracks, threatening the balance between the spiritual and mortal worlds. Kanakavathi asks Berme and the tribal leaders to move their deities to the kingdom temple to restore harmony. The ritual is completed, but soon after, children in Kantara begin falling unconscious from a mysterious illness. Berme learns that Kanakavathi has been conspiring against the tribe. Revived in her childhood by the evil Kadapa clan, she planned with her father to trap the daivas and harness their power through black magic. She also encouraged Kulashekhara's attack on the tribe. It is revealed that all the rulers of Bangra wanted to seize the holy garden.

Berme declares war against the Bangra kingdom. In battle, Kanakavathi strengthens Rajashekara with the forbidden rituals of the Kadapa people. Mayakara, the fisherman from the beginning, reappears and advises Berme to return to the sacred well. There, Berme discovers a hidden chamber with a Shivalinga and a divine trishul. After almost being defeated by a Brahmarakshasa, upon touching the trident, Berme is again possessed by Guliga and, with holy powers, frees the Daivas from black magic. As Panjurli ignites a fire around Rajashekara's stronghold, Berme confronts Kanakavathi. When she taunts the daiva, saying that a male Daiva cannot kill a woman, Guliga declares that her destruction will come from Chavundi, the goddess of feminine power, who possesses Berme. In this form, Chavundi defeats and kills both Kanakavathi and Rajashekara, restoring peace to Kantara.

The film closes with Berme diving back into the sacred well and disappearing. The narrator from 1970 reflects on the legend, and the well is revealed as the same circle where Berme, Annappa, and later Kaadubettu Shiva (Rishab Shetty) himself vanished. When asked by Shiva what the well holds, the narrator affirms that it is a legend for another day, confirming Kantara: Chapter 2.

Cast

Production

Development

Following the success of Kantara (2022), in February 2023, Rishab Shetty confirmed that a prequel will be made and what was actually shown was the second part. It was reported that in Mangalore, Shetty had sought the permission of god Panjurli to film a prequel. The scripting work was completed in around 8 months, where Shetty collaborated with Shaneel Gautham and Anirudh Mahesh.

The film throws light on the origin of Panjurli Daiva and Guliga Daiva. The film's story is set in pre-colonial Karnataka, during the reign of Kadambas from Banavasi. Later, Shetty also revealed that basic theme of the film is same as previous part, and focuses on the conflict between the tribals of Kantara forest and a tyrannical king.

Filming

Principal photography began in November 2023, with a formal pooja ceremony. In April 2024, major portion was filmed in Shetty's own village Keradi in Kundapura. A massive set was created by more than 600 carpenters for the same. Shetty learned horse riding, Kalaripayattu and sword fighting for his role. In November 2024, a bus carrying crew members met with an accident near Jadkal due to which shooting got halted. In January 2025, filming moved to the forests of Sakleshpur. However, later the makers were fined ₹50K for dumping material inside protected forest area. In February 2025, a grand war sequence was filmed which was choreographed by national and international experts. The sequence included over 500 skilled fighters and a total cast of nearly 3,000 people. It was shot on a 25-acre set in Karnataka's mountains, and the sequence took nearly 50 days to film completely. In May 2025, the film's last schedule was filmed 20 kilometers away from Kundapur. In the same month, reports claimed that actor Rakesh Poojary died on film's set but later makers clarified about his death on a family function and not on film set. Shetty filmed the climax with swollen and bruised legs. The entire filming was wrapped by July 2025.

Music

The film's soundtrack album and background score was composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, who had composed for the prequel, Kantara.

The first single titled "Brahmakalasha" was released on 28 September 2025. The second single titled "Rebel Song" was released on 1 October 2025. The song's Hindi version was sung by Diljit Dosanjh. The full album was released on 11 October 2025.

Marketing

The film's first look teaser was released on 27 November 2023. Another first-look poster was released on 7 July 2025, following the wrap of the film. The official trailer was released on 22 September 2025. Following the release of the trailer a press meet was held in Bengaluru. On 28 September 2025, a pre-release event was held in Hyderabad where N. T. Rama Rao Jr. was invited as chief guest. On 30 September 2025, another pre-release event was set to take place in Chennai, however it was cancelled by the makers, following the 2025 Karur crowd crush. On 7 October 2025, a success meet was held in New Delhi.