When Kantara released in 2022, it became a cultural phenomenon , a deeply spiritual and rooted story that blended folklore, devotion, and raw emotion with cinematic brilliance. Naturally, expectations were sky-high for Kantara Chapter 1, but sadly, what we get is a forced prequel that lacks both the soul and substance of the original.

From the very beginning, it’s clear that this film didn’t need to be made. Instead of expanding the mythos in a meaningful way, Kantara Chapter 1 feels more like an attempt to cash in on the franchise’s popularity. The story is set centuries before the events of the first film, yet instead of exploring the cultural and divine layers of its world, it opts for grand visuals and exaggerated drama ,often feeling like a mix of Baahubali and every other generic period epic we’ve seen before.

The first half is painfully sluggish, struggling to find its rhythm. The pacing is off, the writing feels uninspired, and the emotional pull that defined Kantara is completely missing. Even the interval block ,where you’d expect some fireworks - feels flat and forgettable.

The second half redeems the film slightly, with two moments that stand out. One of them is when Rishab Shetty embodies Guliga Devta, a sequence that should have been the emotional high point. Unfortunately, it feels like a recycled version of the original’s most iconic scene, delivering no real goosebumps since the magic has already been experienced before. The climax introduces a Maa Chamunda Devi angle, which gives a faint spark of satisfaction, but it’s too little, too late.

Rishab Shetty’s performance is sincere, but his direction falters. The storytelling lacks depth, the screenplay feels hollow, and the twists are entirely predictable. The spiritual essence, cultural authenticity, and emotional resonance that made Kantara unforgettable are nowhere to be found here. Even the music and devotional energy are conspicuously absent.

Technically, the film looks good, the VFX and cinematography are impressive but that alone cannot save a weak script. The dialogues often border on cringe, and Gulshan Devaiah’s subplot feels out of place and unnecessary.

In the end, Kantara Chapter 1 feels less like a natural continuation of a legacy and more like a commercial obligation. Despite some visual grandeur, it fails to capture the heart and divinity of its predecessor.

Verdict: A visually polished but emotionally hollow prequel that does little justice to the name Kantara. In Hindi, it’s likely to perform only average at the box office.