Kantara Sequel Fails to Match Authenticity of Blockbuster Original

In October 2025, filmmaker-actor Rishab Shetty is facing the challenge of following up on the unprecedented success of his 2022 blockbuster, Kantara. Much like other directors who have expanded their pan-India franchises, Shetty has chosen to go back in time and establish the origins of his cinematic universe.

Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) spends a significant amount of time building the backstory, with events unfolding like a checklist. The film introduces the powerful Bangra dynasty, whose eyes are set on the natural riches of Kantara's forest village. A bloody fight between the two factions concludes with a truce, and it's not until the arrival of Shetty's Berme, Kantara's special one, that the audience can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

While the film boasts impressive visuals and action sequences, thanks to a pumped-up budget, the story fails to propel the narrative and keep the audience engaged. Despite touching on familiar themes, such as the tussle between the haves and have-nots, the right to land and resources, and the glory of resistance, the marriage of folklore with a mainstream narrative that made the original Kantara distinctive is not as polished in this installment.

Gulshan Devaiah and Rukmini Vasanth, however, deliver strong performances, with Devaiah's Kulashekhara, the spoiled brat of a king, and Vasanth's Kanakavathi, who has a better-developed arc, adding depth to the drama and conflict. The film's highlight remains Shetty's visceral performance depicting the Bhoota Kola, but this time with more theatrics and less emotional depth.

Overall, Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) aspires to do too much more but fails to match the authenticity and soul-stirring impact of its predecessor.