Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (2025): Cast, Plot, Trailer Highlights & What to Expect
Kantara: Chapter 1, the mythological prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara, directed by Rishab Shetty, will release on 2 October 2025. Starring Rishab Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah, the film promises epic folklore action, stunning visuals, and a deeper dive into the origin of Daiva traditions. Read our full preview: cast, plot, trailer impressions & what to expect.
Trailer & Buzz: What Fans Are Saying
The trailer for Kantara: Chapter 1 dropped on 22 September 2025, and immediately generated excitement across social media. Fans are calling it “bigger and better,” praising the visuals, scale, and mood. The story is teasing a mythological setup with strong folklore, ritual scenes, and ancestral conflict.
Kantara: Chapter 1 – Story & Setting: What’s the Premise
- Kantara: Chapter 1 is a prequel to Kantara (2022), taking place in pre-colonial times in coastal Karnataka, around 300 CE during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty.
- It explores the origin of the Daiva tradition (Bhuta Kola/divine guardians), divine land guardianship, and the mythic roots of the protagonist Berlme’s lineage.
- Rishab Shetty plays Berme, a “Naga Sadhu” armed with mystic powers, a fierce warrior in tribal and ritualistic settings.
Cast & Crew: Who’s Who
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director & Lead/Protagonist | Rishab Shetty (as Berme) |
| Female Lead (Princess/Kanakavathi) | Rukmini Vasanth |
| Antagonist/Prince Kulashekara | Gulshan Devaiah |
| Supporting Cast | Jayaram, Rakesh Poojari, Pramod Shetty, others |
| Music | B. Ajaneesh Loknath |
| Cinematography | Arvind Kashyap |
| Producers | Vijay Kiragandur, Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films |
Visuals, Music & Technical Craft
- The trailer reveals high production values: grand battle sequences (war scenes with large crowd, elaborate set design), strong use of visual effects, impressive costume & action direction.
- Music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath appears to lean heavily into folk, ritualistic, atmospheric sound, designed to enhance the mythic and spiritual tone.
- Formats: Will be released in IMAX, 4DX, and D-Box, in multiple languages (Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, English) to serve a pan-Indian audience.
Kantara: Chapter 1 Release Date
- The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 2 October 2025, which coincides with Gandhi Jayanti and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) — a festive date, expected to help footfalls.
- Budget reported around ₹125 crore for this prequel.
(Kantara: Chapter 1: Theatrical release poster)
Comparison with Kantara (2022)
| Aspect | Kantara (2022)* | Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025)* |
|---|---|---|
| Setting / Timeline | Late 1990s, modern rural setting with folklore elements | Ancient / Mythological era (~300 CE), pre-colonial, origin of myth and divine rituals |
| Scale of Production | Modest to moderate budget, praised visuals despite constraints | Larger budget (~₹125 crore), more ambitious battle & mythic sequences, more VFX and technical formats like IMAX & 4DX |
| Themes | Folklore, nature vs man, belief systems, local culture | Deep origin myths, divine guardianship, spiritual roots, and exploration of ancestral conflict |
| Audience Expectations | Surprise hit, praised for authenticity & raw emotion | Higher expectations: visuals, scale, technical grandeur; fan anticipation is very high |
| Languages & Formats | Released in Kannada & dubbed versions | Multiple Indian languages, advanced theatrical formats |
Conclusion
Kantara: Chapter 1 looks set to be one of the major Indian films of 2025, especially for those who enjoyed the first Kantara. It pushes the envelope in terms of scale, mythological storytelling, technical formats, and production values. The cast is strong, the creative team has credibility, and the setting (both mythic and geographical) taps into cultural roots that audiences often resonate with.
For fans of folklore, spectacle, epic cinema, and strong visuals, this film is definitely one to watch in theatres. If you go in with expectations for not just action but depth of story, this may deliver. If you are a more casual viewer, the film’s grandeur and festival release might still make it worth watching for experience alone.
