Kantara

​"Kantara"

Watched dubbed Hindi version of movie "Kantara". 

This film is directed by Rishabh Shetty. Written by Rishabh Shetty. Produced by Vijay Kirgandur. Cinematography Arvind S. Kashyap. The film stars Rishabh Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, Manasi Sudhir, Achyut Kumar, Deepak Rai Paanaaje, Pramod Shetty, Swaraj Shetty, Prakash Thuminad, Shine Shetty, Mime Ramdas. Music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath. The film runs for about 2 hour 27 minutes and was released in 2022. I watched it on Netflix on 26th Dec 2022 with Aditi. 

In 19th century, there was a Raja. He had everything but not peace of mind. He finds it when he comes across Demigod (Daiva) Panjurli (Bore spirit deity). He requests the tribals to give him the stone (Panjurli) and in return hands over a vast tract of land to the tribals. Fast forward to 1970. Raja’s descendant demands the land back during Kola dance performed by Shiva’s father with spirit of Panjurli in him. Panjurli curses, Shiva’s father vanished in the circle of fire and the descendent dies. Fast forward to 1990. Son of the dead man is now Raja. He takes care of villagers but the new forest officer has a grudge against them.

Why is forest officer against the villagers? Can Shiva do any good? Will Raja help? Is the village in danger?

Shiva is the lovable rascal of the village. Big hearted, powerful, cantankerous, good for nothing leader. Kamala is his love but she is torn between being the villager and forest guard. Raja always takes care of villagers, is always good to Shiva and desires something. Forest officer is honest, duty bound, decent chap. 

This movie is a Rishabh Shetty show. He is the writer, director and actor. As a director he handles the movie very well. As actor he portrays benevolent Daiva Panjurli, lovable rogue Shiva and ferocious Daiva Guliga impressively. Kishore portrays the honest forest officer effectively. His measured acting brings order. Sapthami plays Shiva’s love interest. It’s good to see an average looking actress casted as protagonist. Achyut plays the two faced Raja and does well. Manasi plays foul mouthed, loving mom of Shiva. 

The story is basically about rights of forest dwelling people who live off the forest. This creates conflict with forest department. Saheb (Raja) sides with the villagers. He too has his agenda. He gives less  and takes more from the simple villagers and they revere him. Thus the conflicts are established. They manifest. So does the spirit of Panjurli and spirit of the fierce Guliga. The movie has smell of earth, feel of forest and the simplicity of life. When I watched the movie, I wasn’t very impressed but as I thought about it later, it grew on me. 

There is an impressive shot of joining the hands of villagers and forest officer, message by Daiva to work together. It is followed by rather perplexing but impactful end.  What does it signify? Mukti? Purity? Shock?

This movie has broken all recent records. It has collected more than 25 times its production cost. It became second highest grossing Kannada film of all times.

Positives: Smell of earth.   

Negatives: Rather perplexing end. 

Watch it.