I watched the Kannada film Kantara recently, in its Telugu dubbed version. And, it was a great cinematic experience. Set in the backdrop of tribal habitations of Tulu nadu in the picturesque Western Ghats, the story details the victory of human need over human greed enmeshed with an eternal layered conflict between good and evil, tradition and modernity and nature and man. In a simple, straight forward narrative that does not suffer the need to pamper any ideologies, Kantara’s characters enthrall us with a refreshing sincerity. The vibrant tradition of Sacred Grooves and the concomitant art forms and living styles viz Bhoot-arathana, Bhuta-Kola, Kambala, legends of Panjurli, Guliga Deva are brought to the fore in a non-caricatured, subtle, emotional way.
Rishab Shetty stood out tall as director and lead actor in this epic, dishing out once in a lifetime performance, especially in the climax, in a cinematic ode to a largely ignored tradition. In its emphasis on regional culture, the film marks originality. The supporting cast viz Sapthami Gowda as Leela and the villagers play their roles to perfection.
This is a film to be experienced on big screens and don’t miss it there.
Kantara (Film, Kannada, Hombale Films, 2022) by Rishab Shetty
