Rishab Shetty’s Kantata: Chapter 1 released in theatres Pan-India yesterday to a positive response. The film is the prequel to the surprise hit Kantara. Shetty spoke about the film and the first film’s success in an interview with us.
Rishab Shetty on Kantara: Chapter 1, “You will get what you are expecting and you will definitely get what you are not expecting”
What prompted you to do a prequel to Kantara?
So, I had some thoughts which, after the release of the first film, I discussed with my co-writer, and Hombale, Vijay and Chaluve sir also. Since many journalists were asking me in interviews, I always used to say that I will take a break and rest. But then I got the idea that this one more part of the franchise can be made. We actually got a proper idea because of this announcement poster that we put out via Hombale, and we thought that instead of making a sequel, let’s make a prequel to give a proper backstory.
What should the Kantara fans expect in the second film of this furiously popular franchise?
So, the way everyone is reacting to the climax of the last film. For the last twenty minutes of the film, I think it should cross that bar, like it did last time… I mean, it’s a new story and I’ve gone back in time in the story. But you will get what you are expecting and you will definitely get to see what you are not expecting.
From the first Kantara film to the sequel, how much have you evolved as a human being, actor and director?
I got to learn a lot. I think after learning a little from the mistakes I made last time, I am making a new mistake here, that’s it. So, here whatever I realized after the release of the film, like, ‘Oh, okay, this will happen, this will happen, okay… next time I will do this’ then definitely I go back and make a new mistake. So, in that learning process, I try to reduce the mistakes as much as possible. No matter how many boxes are kept blank, we can fill them. If I go after filling them completely, I will not get a place, I keep thinking that. As a director, as a storyteller, as a writer, as an actor, everything I do is aimed to scale up a bit. So, those people who are talking about the budget, actually it all scales up. That’s the way to think about it, that’s how you can approach it.
We started Kantara during the second lockdown. Vijay Kiragandur, after watching my first film Sarkari, offered me a film, and asked us to pitch it to him if we had any ideas. And then, after the release, the Kannada audience appreciated us so much, and it was like converting a spark into a wildfire and spreading a voice. The response from every audience, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, has impacted us a lot.
What would you do next?
I am doing a movie with Mr Ashwin Gangaraju. It’s called Anandmath. There is something about the story, but I think the director/production house will clarify that, (it’s) very good, interesting. Actually, first I am doing Jai Hanuman.
Would you do a third Kantara film just because you are expected to?
Nahin… Honestly, I don’t want to do it just because I am expected to. What I want is for the story to be right to make a third film. And I don’t want to keep doing anything repetitive. I won’t do part 3 unless there’s something better and meaningful to explore. That is exactly why we are doing the prequel, because it felt natural, because the world of Kantara has a lot of depth. But simply making Kantara 3 because of demand? That’s not something I want to do.
More Pages: Kantara: A Legend Chapter – 1 Box Office Collection , Kantara: A Legend Chapter – 1 Movie Review
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