Kantara: Chapter 1 is the highly anticipated mythological action drama directed by Rishab Shetty, set for release on October 2, 2025. It is a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster film, Kantara. For the unversed, Kantara collected Rs. 309.64 crore in India and Rs. 407.82 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of all time. Now that the prequel of the hit movie is knocking at the door, its story has been revealed. In fact, the movie buffs have also reacted to it.
Rishab Shetty starrer, Kantara: Chapter 1, the story gets revealed
According to the US ticketing app, Fandango, Kantara: Chapter 1, the prequel of the 2022 hit film, has a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes. They also revealed the synopsis of the upcoming prequel. It is set in 300 CE, during the rule of the Kadamba dynasty, and will take the audience deep into the forests of Banavasi. It will feature Rishab Shetty as ‘Naga Sadhu’, a warrior and mystic, who sets a connection between the divine and the mortal. The synopsis can be read as:
“Long before the events of the 2022 sensation, a legend was born. Set in 300 CE during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty, Kantara: Chapter 1 takes audiences into the mystical forests of Banavas. Rishab Shetty transforms into a fierce Naga Sadhu, a warrior-mystic destined to become the bridge between mortals and the divine.”
Netizens react to Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 story
Soon after the ticketing site, revealed the story of Kantara: Chapter 1, netizens took to their X handles (formerly Twitter), and shared their reactions. An X user wrote, “Unnecessary prequel.” Another user penned, “Have a super bad feeling this film won’t work or live up to the original. In order to please Bollywood, Rishabh Shetty has moved away from the soul (my gut feel). Hope I’m horribly wrong.” The ending of the synopsis, “This isn’t just a prequel, it’s the origin of a myth,” didn’t go well with some netizens.
A user wrote, “Origin of myth?? Dude, it’s our history, not a myth.” Another user penned, “Why do you call every godly history a myth? You say it’s just a story, not history.” A user pointed out how mythology has been used for money and wrote, “It’s just milking Hindu Gods and mythology for money that’s it:) because the most selling things in current scenario and just nothing.” While Rishab will appear as ‘Naga Sadhu’ in the prequel, a user enquired about his character in Kantara and wrote, “What about Shiva???” For the unversed, Rishab Shetty portrayed the role of ‘Shiva’ in Kantara and bagged a National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
More about Kantara: Chapter 1
Kantara: Chapter 1 is a Kannada language mythological action drama written and directed by Rishab Shetty. Alongside Rishab, the film also features Rukmini Vasanth as ‘Kanakavathi’, Gulshan Devaiah as ‘Kulashekara’, Jayaram and Rakesh Poojari. The movie has been produced by Vijay Kiragandur through the banner of Hombale Films. Kantara: Chapter 1 is scheduled for release on October 2, 2025 and will be available in many languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, English, Bengali and Malayalam.
What are your thoughts on the film’s synopsis? Let us know.
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