Chennai, July 21
The makers of director Rishab Shetty's eagerly awaited film, 'Kantara: Chapter 1', which will be a prequel to the blockbuster 'Kantara', on Monday announced that the film had been wrapped and released a video that gave a glimpse of the fascinating manner in which the film had been made.
Hombale Films, the production house producing the eagerly awaited film, took to its X timeline to share the link to the glimpse video.
It wrote, "Wrap Up… The Journey Begins. Presenting #WorldOfKantara ~ A Glimpse into the making. #KantaraChapter1 has been a divine journey, deeply rooted in our culture, brought to life with unwavering dedication, relentless hard work, and incredible team spirit. Can’t wait to see you all in theatres on October 2nd, as this legendary tale unfolds on big screens worldwide."
The making video shows the amount of effort that both the unit and the film's director Rishab Shetty have put into the film. Rishab Shetty discloses that the film has been shot over a period of three years and that thousands have worked on Kantara: Chapter 1, which he believes is not just a film but a divine force.
Rishab Shetty, in the glimpse video says, "I have a dream. To tell the story of my land to the whole world. Our village. Our people. Our beliefs. When I chose to pursue that dream, thousands stood with me. Three years of hard work. Two hundred and fifty days of shoot. No matter the challenges I have faced, the faith never let go of me. My entire team, my producers, they were my backbone. Everyday, as I looked out to the thousands who had gathered to work, one thought kept coming back to me. This is not just a film. This is a divine force. Welcome to the world of Kantara."
The director then disclosed that the film had been wrapped up but then this was also the beginning.
For the unaware, Kantara was a pan Indian blockbuster featuring Rishab Shetty in a dual role, along with Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, and Achyuth Kumar. The film's story revolved around a Kambala champion who is at loggerheads with an upright forest officer.
The film, which emerged a huge blockbuster, also came in for critical acclaim from film industry legends across the country. In fact, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth called up the core team of the film to congratulate them for having made a movie which he described as a 'masterpiece'.
Responding to Rajinikanth's message, director and actor Rishab Shetty had then said, "Dear Rajinikanth sir! You are the biggest Superstar in India and I have been your fan since childhood. Your appreciation is my dream come true. You inspire me to do more local stories and inspire our audiences everywhere. Thank you sir."
'Kantara : Chapter 1', the prequel to the blockbuster film, will be set during the reign of the Kadambas of Banavasi. It has been written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films.
The movie stars Rishab and Jayaram in the lead roles. Filming for the upcoming actioner began in November 2023, with the first look and teaser released on November 27. Sources reveal that Rishab Shetty will portray a Naga Sadhu with superhuman powers in the film. 'Kantara: Chapter 1' is scheduled for release on October 2, 2025, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The dedication shown by the team is incredible! 250 days of shoot over 3 years - this is what real filmmaking looks like. Hope Bollywood learns something about authentic storytelling from South Indian cinema.
While I loved Kantara, I hope they don't overdo the supernatural elements in the prequel. The original struck a perfect balance between folklore and realism. Fingers crossed!
As someone new to Indian cinema, Kantara was my introduction to regional films. The cultural depth was breathtaking! Looking forward to learning more about the Kadambas period through this prequel.
October 2025 is too far away yaar! The teaser gave me goosebumps. Rishab Shetty's passion is infectious - you can see it in every frame. Jai Bhootaraya ðŸ™
The making video shows such authentic village locations! Reminds me of my ancestral home in Karnataka. Proud to see our traditions getting global recognition through cinema like this 💛
The production quality looks Hollywood-level! That forest set is massive. Indian cinema is truly coming of age. Will definitely watch this in theaters for the full experience.