Rishab Shetty settles on a prequel narrative for Kantara 2

When Rishab Shetty’s Kantara became a runaway hit and the makers, Hombale Films announced that it had the potential to become a franchise, it got netizens speculating about the trajectory that the next film could follow. Would it be a prequel to explain the religious and cultural importance of daivas and bhootakola, or would it examine what happens to Shiva (Rishab) the protagonist of Kantara, who disappears in a ring of fire, much like his father did years ago? While a young Shiva had seen his father, a daiva narthaka, vanish into thin air, as an adult, he left behind a heavily pregnant wife. Netizens swayed in favour of a sequel that would explain the ring of fire, whether it is the gateway to another dimension, while also finding out what happens to Shiva and taking the narrative forward with the next generation.

According to multiple reports, though, Rishab’s Kantara 2 will be a prequel that delves into the history of the daivas revered in the coastal belt of Karnataka. The official handle of Hombale Films posted a video of the entire team seeking blessings of the daiva at a kola performance, although it was not specified if this was a more recent one or from back in December when they did a Panjurli seva in Mangaluru. Irrespective, the buzz now is that Rishab is concentrating on research for his subject, for which he will stay in the area for a while. Reports suggest that Rishab is likely to go on floors with the film in June this year, with a likely release for Kantara 2 in April/May of 2024.

If Kantara 2 is indeed a prequel, the cast will be entirely new, barring Rishab, who had played his father and Shiva in the original.