Set centuries ago in the Kadamba era of coastal Karnataka, Kantara Chapter 1 goes back to the very roots of the divine tradition seen in Kantara. The story follows Berme, a fierce tribal warrior whose life is bound to the sacred forest and the guardian spirits Panjurli and Guliga, who protect the land and its people through the mystical Bhuta Kola rituals.

The ruling Bangra kingdom, led by the arrogant King Kulashekara, looks at the forest and its resources with greedy eyes. Princess Kanakavathi finds herself caught between the court’s ambitions and the world of the tribes. As the kingdom pushes deeper into the sacred land, tensions rise between the rulers who believe power gives them every right and the tribals who believe the land belongs to the gods.

Berme rises as the shield of his people, and the conflict grows from land and pride into something far more spiritual. The divine forces that sleep in the forest begin to stir, possessions and rituals blur the line between man and god, and Berme’s journey transforms him into a vessel of the daivas themselves as war between the kingdom and the tribe becomes unavoidable.

Written, directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 is a grand mythological action drama that expands the Kantara universe with breathtaking scale, powerful performances and a thunderous climax. Rukmini Vasanth and Gulshan Devaiah add strength to the cast, while the film’s rooted storytelling, stunning visuals and divine energy made it one of the biggest Indian films of 2025.