I watched Kantara Chapter 1 today, and honestly, Iโm still wondering why people are giving it 8+ ratings. I donโt mean to hurt anyoneโs feelings or disrespect the effort behind the film, but this is exactly what I felt after watching it with my own eyes.
Firstly, I donโt understand why Rishab Shetty made this film when it feels like he didnโt even have a proper script. The movie tries to be about divine power, faith, and culture โ but almost every major moment ends up revolving only around him. Every โelevationโ scene focuses on Rishabโs character with over-the-top shouting and aggression, while the side artists are left completely sidelined. They barely have a role or purpose in the story.
The film tries to create mystery and depth like a Christopher Nolan story โ not in visuals or cinematography, but in how confusing and disjointed it feels. The audience is left scratching their heads rather than connecting emotionally.
Out of roughly 100 minutes, nearly 80 minutes are just filled with repetitive fights, loud sequences, and illogical moments. The action scenes are stretched far too long and donโt add much to the story. I honestly donโt know where they picked some of the supporting cast from โ apart from a few main characters, no one really stands out or performs memorably.
To be very frank, I felt disappointed walking out of the theatre. It doesnโt have a strong story, itโs just a hero-elevation project built to hype Rishab Shetty himself. Compared to the original Kantara, this one isnโt even 20% as good.
Maybe people who love loud fight scenes, sound effects, and visual grandeur might enjoy it, but for anyone expecting a meaningful story or emotional depth โ this film is going to feel like a letdown. I canโt call it a blockbuster or even a hit. For me, itโs a one-time watch at best honestly, youโre better off waiting for it to arrive on OTT.
Only for the cinematography and background score โ the rest felt like noise without soul