Kantara fan expectations: Strong content, wow factors, great bgm and top-class acting

Kantara is actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty’s return to direction after four years. As a filmmaker, Rishab has a certain image based on the more serious nature of the subjects he picks for the screen, albeit told in entertaining fashion, like, for instance, his last, Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale. As an actor, though, he is a mixed bag, with a lot of his characters steeped in comedy. With only hours to go for the film to open to audiences, the question in industry circles is, of course, about what to expect from Rishab this time around.

As per the trailer that he released, Kantara is about a community that lives in the fringes of a mysterious forest, where a set of traditions are followed. The practice of these traditions, though, goes against the rules in the eco-sensitive zone, putting Rishab’s character Shiva at loggerheads with the deputy range forest officer, Murali, played by Kishore. The song Singara Siriye implied that there’s a love story too, between Shiva and Leela (Sapthami Gowda).

From the time the trailer came out, fans have been excited about seeing Kishore in a pivotal role, which continues even now. He is, no doubt, a big draw for audiences. “Aravind Kashyap’s cinematography and Ajaneesh’s background score will be the talk of town,” read a tweet. “There will be intense action and focus on Tulunadu’s customs and traditions,” tweeted another. A third added, “High-octane story, highly intense ego clash between Rishab and Kishore, great visuals, and Ajaneesh’s bgm will be the highlights.”

Some felt that since Raj B Shetty was also involved with the making (he suggested the title and choreographed the Bhoothakola sequences), and is believed to have contributed to the writing too, Kantara will be a very good movie.

However, there were some that said that the team had failed to create excitement around the film, while a select few even went to the extent of calling it a Pushpa remake.

Produced by Hombale Films, Kantara opens in theatres on September 30.