Su From So’s Shaneel Gautham on the writing process of Kantara Chapter 1: ‘There were a lot of re-writes…’
Shaneel Gautham is one of two co-writers, who worked with actor Rishab Shetty on the script of Kantara Chapter 1, which hits theatres on October 2, 2025
Last Updated: 01.51 PM, Sep 24, 2025
Kannada actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty took only a little over 4 months after his 2022 film Kantara to announce that the next film in the franchise would be a prequel. Another 8 months later, he was on floors with the film, Kantara Chapter 1, which is now only days away from its date with audiences. Like with the original, this time too, Rishab collaborated with fellow writers Shaneel Gautham and Anirudh Mahesh on the script. Rishab came up with the basic thread of the story, which Shaneel and Anirudh developed with him.
Shaneel Gautham: The cast and crew of Kantara Chapter 1 has given their blood and sweat to the project
Given the anticipation surrounding the project, how much brainstorming was involved in the writing of Kantara Chapter 1? “We must have had at least 18 rewrites during the initial story discussion,” said Shaneel talking to FDFS Kannada, adding, “Even then, the script was not frozen and during the shoot there were a further 7-8 versions, before we locked on one that got made for the screen.”
Also read: Kantara Chapter 1’s pre-release business: Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited prequel is already in profit
Writing was not the only difficult job, reckons Shaneel, stating that Kantara Chapter 1 is a film on which every department has given its blood and sweat to ensure the best quality output onscreen. For Shaneel, personally, working on both the Kantara films over the last 5 years, has been a very emotional journey that he is proud to have been a part of.
The film, meanwhile, is set during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty and follows a conflict between the tribals of Kantara and a tyrannical king. Rishab, as Berme, leads the charge against the king. The film also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram, Prakash Thuminad, Rakesh Poojary, among others, while Shaneel, who is fresh off the success of Su From So, in which he played a pivotal character, also has a role.
FAQs
Q. Are Kantara and Kantara: Chapter 1 the same?
A. No, they are separate films in the same franchise, both written and directed by Rishab Shetty. Kantara released in 2022, while Kantara: Chapter 1 is expected to hit theatres on October 2, 2025. Chapter 1 is the prequel of the original film and is supposedly an exploration of the origin of the Panjurli Daiva, among others.
Q. Whose avatar is Panjurli Daiva?
A. Panjurli Daiva is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha incarnation. Panjurli, according to folklore, was a wild boar, who was slain by Lord Shiva and then revived to become a divine protector.