Kantara: Chapter 1

Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (transl. Mysterious Forest: Chapter 1) is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language epic period mythological action drama film co-written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films. The film stars Rishab Shetty in a quadruple role as Berme, Mayakara, Annappa and Kaadubettu Shiva, along with Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah. A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara, the story delves deeper into the origins of the tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first film. Set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the prequel blends regional folklore and divinity into a narrative that explores man's relationship with nature. Filming began in November 2023. B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the soundtrack and background score. The film was released on 2 October 2025, coinciding with Dasara. Like the predecessor, Chapter 1 received positive reviews from critics. It became a commercial success at the box office and is currently the second highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time, second highest grossing Indian film of 2025 and also ranks among highest-grossing Indian films of all time.