Kantara movie

Kantara is not a movie. It is a profound spiritual experience. It is a journey which many people from this generation go through of being wayward, having a realisation and eventually coming back to their roots. A journey of bhakti, acceptance and surrender.

A lot of reviews mentioned that the movie did not have a grand location or expensive costumes and make-up or big stars to run the show. All these were not required! The aspect of ‘tradition’ and the way it was portrayed was more than enough to give massive strength to the movie. The showcase of coastal Karnataka, Tulunadu, Kambala, Yakshagana, the coastal Kannada and of course Bhootakola were the showstoppers of the movie. Even if it weren’t for the gripping performances by Rishabh Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Kishore and others, the movie would still have been a hit with other actors in their places. That’s how strong the showcase of culture and tradition can be.

Kantara movie online

The movie did not have any comedians and yet the subtle and effortless comedy was hilarious. With whatever knowledge I have about the culture of coastal Karnataka, I can say the portrayal was absolutely authentic. This is why we did not need costumes or heavy make-up. Everything was simple and genuine. The music of the movie was apt and ‘Varaha roopam’ is still ringing in my head. Kudos to Sai Vignesh, Vijay Prakash and Ajeesh Loknath.

Rishabh Shetty has given a performance of a lifetime. Be it the kambala (Buffalo race) sequence or being the typical coastal Karnataka man (which he already is in real-life), he has given it his all.Generally Bhootakola is with an elaborate make-up and costume which are crucial aspects for creating the atmosphere of the ritual. But in the climax, Rishabh Shetty managed to bring about the atmosphere even without any Bhootakola make-up or costume. That goes to show how strong his performance was. Achyuth Kumar is already a seasoned performer and what caught my attention was the effortless transformation in his acting once his character’s true colors were revealed. Kishore as the Deputy Forest Range Officer Muralidhar has given a commendable portrayal of a logical man who is indifferent and unable to understand the local culture and eventually realises how much it is important to deal with the folks by being a part of them and not against them. Whether he begins to believe in the Bhootakola faith or not is left to the imagination of the viewer, but the change in him of being able to be one among the tribals is the transformation that his character went through. Sapthami Gowda not your typical heroine. She is just like any of us girls and that makes her relatable. Her character of Leela, torn between her professional duties and the calls of the culture and community she belongs to adding on to the tough times with the man she loves, to eventually being able to come around and be a rebel is subtle and yet impactful.

With the chances of revealing a lot, (I am sure most Kannadigas and many others would have already watched the movie by now) the plot has been described by many as that of man vs nature and how greed can destroy the ecosystem and eventually destroy you as well. But there is a deeper aspect to the movie. Realisation.

A lot of us go through a stage of being lost, confused, indifferent or even critical about our traditions, culture and rituals. Especially people dwelling in metropolitan cities who have no indigenous culture to fall back upon due to the mix-up of various cultures and end up drifting away from everything. In most cases, something tragic happens and which would cause an emotional turmoil in all of us. Most of us learn from this experience and have a transformation. And this changes our life completely. Just like what happened to Shiva in the movie, after the death of his cousin.

No matter what path you are on, life constantly gives you chances to take and come back to your roots. Watching these kind of movies gives that extra push and inspiration one might need to go back to their traditions and accept them sincerely. In the beginning, what scared Shiva constantly, eventually became his strength once he decided to face it fearlessly and embrace it wholeheartedly. And that’s what dharma and samskara of this country inclusive of the cultures of various parts of this country is all about.

With the risk of the theatre people objecting, I was able to capture the climax of the movie on my phone, to view again and again and be enthralled with goosebumps! The last 10 minutes of the movie was nothing short of a transcendental experience which cannot be put forth in words. One has to be there and experience it. It definitely lingers long after the watch! And a spellbinding display of what a divine power can do.

Definitely a must-watch, if you haven’t seen it already! And I’m glad nobody can lay their dirty hands on this movie and remake it. Recreating this would be one hell of a task as it is not about the script or acting but the tradition of Bhootakola which is exclusive to coastal Karnataka. Hopefully it remains the masterpiece that it is! Hatsoff to Rishab Shetty and Hombale Films for creating this!