It’s no easy feat to live up to a phenomenon like Kantara (2022). But Rishab Shetty, who once again dons the triple role of writer, director, and lead actor, takes on the responsibility with conviction. This is not just about expanding a franchise but also about cementing Kannada cinema’s place on the national stage. When Kantara released in 2022, it forced audiences across India to take note of the industry’s creative prowess — and the prequel only pushes that legacy further.

Plot

The story picks up from where Kantara left off, taking viewers back thousands of years to explore the origins of the Daivas — Guliga and Panjurli. The Daivas protect the Kantara tribes and their sacred land against the Kingdom of Bangra. When the King of Bangra is killed by the Daivas for his greed and destruction, his son Vijayendra vows never to set foot in Kantara. But decades later, his reckless heir Kulshekhara (Gulshan Devaiah) breaks this pact and enters the forbidden land. Rishab Shetty plays Berme, a spirited young man from the tribe who bravely defends his people. What follows is a gripping clash between the kingdom and the tribals, rooted in faith, tradition, and survival.