Rishab Shetty’s Kantara (2022), which captivated audiences with its blend of folk mythology and gripping drama, is set to expand its cinematic universe with a prequel. The trailer for Kantara: Chapter 1 promises a deeper, grander experience as the story takes viewers centuries into the past.
While the original film was set in a contemporary rural village, Chapter 1 transports the narrative to around 300 CE, during the Kadamba dynasty era. The prequel explores the origins of the divine traditions and rituals that shaped the world of Kantara, opening with a child questioning the disappearance of his father during a sacred ceremony, setting the stage for mystery and spiritual intrigue.
Visually, the trailer dazzles with its majestic cinematography, showcasing lush forests, expansive battlefields, and intricate ritualistic arenas. The period costumes and elaborate set designs evoke an authentic yet epic feel, pulling audiences into a world where man, nature, and deity exist in delicate harmony.
The film promises not only a visual spectacle but also a haunting soundscape that amplifies the emotional depth of its narrative. Though it explores a larger, more mythological universe, Kantara: Chapter 1 retains the spiritual essence that made the original film such a phenomenon.
Written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films, Kantara: Chapter 1 is set to release on October 2, 2025, in IMAX, 4DX, and D-Box formats.
