Movie · 2025 · Action, Drama, Fantasy · 2h 45m · KN
Curator score: 5.4/10 (91.7K ratings)
Overview
During the Kadamba reign, King Vijayendra, the ruler of the fictional feudatory land of Bangra, meets his final fate while venturing into the mystical forest of Kantara. Witnessing this, his son Rajashekara seals the borders of their realm. Later, Prince Kulashekara reopens them through a brutal massacre. The protagonist, Berme, in search of prosperity, crosses the divide and ignites a conflict of faith, power, and destiny between the Kingdom and Nature.
A visually ambitious folklore epic with strong atmosphere, striking action, and a committed central performance, but it also draws criticism for repetition, uneven writing, and a story that leans heavily on spectacle and climax. Best experienced on a big screen if you’re already inclined toward mythic, devotional fantasy; less compelling if you want tight plotting or fresh narrative beats.
Best for
fans of Indian mythological fantasy and folklore
viewers who prioritize scale, visuals, and sound design
audiences who enjoyed the first film and want a larger prequel-style expansion
people who like spiritual or nature-versus-power storytelling
Skip if
you want concise, tightly written storytelling
you’re tired of franchise escalation and sequel/prequel setup
you prefer grounded realism over divine intervention and magical realism
you dislike films that depend on a big final-act payoff
Overview
This is a big, earnest piece of folkloric spectacle: part origin myth, part kingdom drama, part nature-vs-hubris showdown. The film’s strongest assets are its painterly visuals, thunderous soundscape, and the sense that it is trying to build a lived-in legend rather than just recycle a hit formula. When it leans into ritual, dread, and the forest’s mystique, it has real cinematic force.
Worth noting
At the same time, the movie’s ambition can work against it. The plotting is often familiar, the middle stretches can feel overextended, and some viewers will find the emotional beats too dependent on the climax. There’s also a sense that the film is scaling up the mythology faster than the writing can fully support.
Bottom line
If you’re receptive to devotional fantasy and want a loud, immersive theatrical experience, it delivers enough grandeur to justify the trip. If you’re looking for sharper character work or a fresher dramatic engine, it may feel like a polished retread with a few transcendent moments.
Top Letterboxd reviews
lekhasuki (1.5★) · 408 likes
the scariest part of this movie was when it ended with a hint that they may have another chapter to this franchise
Michael James (4★) · 360 likes
Man O Man, Rishabh Shetty once again hits it out of the park !!! He simply aces it as the writer-director-actor, elevating this mythical fantasy action drama into one stunning big screen cinematic spectacle. It follows a similar thread as its predecessor, a tale of good vs evil with forest and demi god intervening to re-establish balance n order. Though I don’t believe much on these myths, divinity and black magic stuffs, the sheer ambition, sincere effort, visual presentation and performances kept me… more Man O Man, Rishabh Shetty once again hits it out of the park !!! He simply aces it as the writer-director-actor, elevating this mythical fantasy action drama into one stunning big screen cinematic spectacle. It follows a similar thread as its predecessor, a tale of good vs evil with forest and demi god intervening to re-establish balance n order. Though I don’t believe much on these myths, divinity and black magic stuffs, the sheer ambition, sincere effort, visual presentation and performances kept me… more
#im’s (2★) · 357 likes
I won’t be surprised if many get multiple dejavu moments watching Kantara chapter 1.
The movie tries to be everything and ends up an average sequel with repeatations and enormous show off for Rishabh Shetty.
Just like its predecessor, this too is too dependant on its final act. It worked back then as it was a fresh experience and now its just like a recap with huge production.
The gross underwhelming stuff they stuffed in the first half was too… more I won’t be surprised if many get multiple dejavu moments watching Kantara chapter 1.
The movie tries to be everything and ends up an average sequel with repeatations and enormous show off for Rishabh Shetty.
Just like its predecessor, this too is too dependant on its final act. It worked back then as it was a fresh experience and now its just like a recap with huge production.
The gross underwhelming stuff they stuffed in the first half was too… more
vishalandcinema · 321 likes
ABSOLUTE MADNESS *AGAIN*
Rishab Shetty avoids the easy route of making a simple cash grab sequel. Instead of repeating the peak moments of Kantara, he takes a bolder path by reaching back into a godly past and layering the story with a strong folktale narrative. The film also improves in areas where the first part had faced criticism. It may be too early to compare with the original, since none of us were ready for that kind of experience back in 2022, but as a sequel Kantara Chapter 1 succeeds both in story and in spirit.
Prasanna (1★) · 254 likes
Can't write anything bad....i fear something "VOOOOOOOOOO" will show up when am sleeping
2006 · Action, Drama, History · 2h 18m · R · Curator 6.9/10 (642.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
A relentless, immersive survival epic with ritual intensity and a strong physical sense of place.