Kantara: Chapter 1 Movie Review | Kairam Vaashi | THR India

In his review for The Hollywood Reporter India, Kairam Vaashi explores how Rishab Shetty rises to the challenge of following a phenomenon like Kantara. While the original film began as a regional Kannada release produced by Hombale Films, its raw spiritual energy and rooted storytelling propelled it into pan-Indian acclaim. With Kantara Chapter 1, Rishab steps into a far more ambitious territory, blending folklore, mythology, and human conflict with visual grandeur rarely seen in Kannada cinema. Kairam notes how the director not only scales up the spectacle but also ensures that the heart of the narrative remains intact, keeping the daiva and the human-versus-nature struggle at the story’s core.

The review highlights the commanding performance of Rishab as Berme, alongside strong turns from Gulshan Devaiah and Rukmini Vasanth, while praising the immersive world built through Dharani Gangeputra’s art direction, Vinesh Banglan’s production design, and Pragathi Shetty’s costumes. Kairam particularly points out the audacious action sequences, captured with sweeping elegance by Arvind Kashyap, as moments that place Rishab in the league of visionaries like S.S. Rajamouli. Despite minor quibbles with pacing and music, Kairam concludes that Kantara Chapter 1 transforms the massive expectations born from the original into fuel for another compelling cinematic experience—an expansion of the divine blockbuster that cements Rishab’s place as a storyteller of national significance.