The modest Kannada film, Kantara, released pan-India and globally in 2022 and created an international storm. Rishab Shetty, its whizkid hero who is also incredibly its main writer and director, is now releasing Kantara: Chapter 1 on October 2, which happens to be Dusshera, all over.
A press meet introduced the film through a teaser, a special wrap-up video of the team, a trailer and a video song—sung and enacted by Diljit Dosanjh, no less. Last but not the least, a comic book on the film was also released! The book has been published by Toonsutra.
Hombale Films, which has produced this film and earlier blockbusters like the KGF franchise and the recent Mahavtar Narsimha, was represented by Charuve Gowda, while Rishab, his wife Pragathi (the Costume Designer of the film) and leading lady Rukmini Vasanth, were also present, along with distributor Anil Thadani of AA Films.
Kantara: Chapter 1 is a prequel to Kantara. It has been reported that in Mangalore, Shetty sought the permission of the deity, Panjurli, to film a prequel. Shetty then collaborated with Shaneel Gautham and Anirudh Mahesh on the script.
The film throws light on the origin of Panjurli Daiva and Guliga Daiva and is set in pre-colonial Karnataka, during the reign of the Kadambas. It focuses on the conflict between the tribals of Kantara forest and a tyrannical king.
Rishab’s wife, Pragathi Shetty stated that for five years now (including the first film), her husband has been more of a director. “We have both been on sets only! Though he is a good husband and good father, he has promised personal time after this. He had done so the last time too, but after Kantara, he was so excited at the result and became busy thinking of the present subject!”
Said the man himself, “When everyone to Karnataka to Kerala and other South audiences and then the Hindi audience and even international viewers showered so much love and appreciation for Kantara, this thought for the second movie crossed my mind. I discussed it with my co-writers, and we knew it would be a huge challenge. My cinematographer, Arvind Kashyap, is absent today, but he has done the kind of work that will make you know his potential.”
He went on, “So much love, success, recognition and appreciation not only make me grateful but is also a responsibility e. My team and I, along with our families, went to the same place where we had shot the earlier film, and it was a tough location.”
Calling the film not just cinema but an emotion, a story rooted in Indian culture (there were similar rituals in other parts of not just India but also the globe!), Rishab asked for everyone’s blessings.
He thanked Vijay Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda of Hombale Films, his distributor Anil Thadani, wife Pragathi (“She is our designer not because she is my wife and has done an amazing job as there are no references in costumes for the 4th century!”), leading lady Rukmini Vasanth (who herself spoke in perfect Hindi and expressed pride over being a small part of the “shakti” or energy that the film is) and all his cast and team. “About a 1000 people have been associated with me and I thank them all!” he said.
He specially raved about Gulshan Devaiah, who had achieved fame in Hindi but was also from Karnataka. “We were to work together some years back in a film that did not happen!” he revealed, terming the actor as an “ultimate performer.”
Mumbai, said Rishab, was very special to him. “It is here that I began my career as an office-boy and driver in a production house. I went to the same road where I would once eat vada-pav. The recognition and blessings I have got I never dreamt of then!” he said.
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