The wait for Rishab Shetty’s next film is getting intense with the release of the trailer for Kantara 2 (Kantara: Chapter 1), the prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara. Almost 3 minutes long, this trailer takes you into a world of ancient legends, unbreakable dharma and fierce battles for land, that will answer all the questions that were raised in the original film. Directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, this mythological action drama sets the stage for a big origin story that goes deep into the roots of tradition and the eternal fight between good and bad.
From the very beginning, the trailer has a scene of young Shiva—exactly like the curious boy from the first film’s opening—asking about his father’s disappearance at a sacred place. The response is full of reverence: it’s their birthplace, woven into their ancestors and a timeless legend. As the voiceover goes, “Whenever mankind goes astray into adharma (unrighteousness), god will send his people to protect dharma (righteousness).” And so Berme, played with great intensity by Rishab Shetty himself, is the chosen one to protect his people’s way of life.
The dense and mysterious Kantara forest is a sanctuary and a forbidden land, haunted by the Brahmarakshasa. Entering it is forbidden, but it becomes the epicenter of the conflict. Enter Prince Kulashekara, played by the intense Gulshan Devaiah, who has no use for the land’s folklore and wants to dominate the Aboriginals. He mocks their beliefs and is the embodiment of power and arrogance, says “I will wash away the shame with the blood of the Kantara people”. Amidst all this Berme’s tender yet fierce romance with Princess Kanakavathi, played by Rukmini Vasanth, adds more fuel to the fire. The royal family’s fear of Berme’s growing influence and his unspoken ambitions for the throne adds more layers of deceit to the story.
At the heart of Kantara: Chapter 1 is the promise to answer the unanswered questions of the previous one, about the origins of the sacred traditions and the generational feuds that is the Kantara legacy. It is the story of the resistance of the marginalized against the oppressors, a struggle that has been going on for centuries for land, dignity and cultural sovereignty. Shetty’s vision takes these themes and makes personal vendettas into a grand mythological war where gods, kings and common man collide in a symphony of valour and sacrifice.
Produced by Hombale Films by Vijay Kiragandur, the film has a great technical team that will take it to the next level. Arvind S Kashyap’s cinematography captures the lush and ominous beauty of the Kantara forest, B Ajaneesh Loknath’s music is the beat of the ancient drums and primal chants. Banglan’s production design transports you to a bygone era of palaces and uncharted territories and Suresh’s editing is fast and relentless, building up to a thunderous climax.
Rishab Shetty, after the massive success of the original Kantara, which became a national phenomenon for its raw energy and cultural connect, has raised the bar exponentially. He is delivering "ten times the visual impact" of the first film. With minimal offline promotions, the trailer has already gone viral and the franchise has got the imagination of the audience on fire.
Releasing worldwide on October 2, Kantara: Chapter 1 is not just a sequel but a foundational epic that honours the past and hurtles towards an explosive future. In Berme's unyielding stand against tyranny Shetty gives us a timeless message: dharma is fierce and unbreakable in the heart of the forest. Fans of the original will get more lore and newcomers will get a journey into a world where legend and legacy is one and the same.