Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is a 2025 Kannada prequel to the hit film Kantara, exploring the origins of the divine guardians Panjurli and Guliga during the ancient Kadamba dynasty era, focusing on the warrior Berme (Rishab Shetty) and his clash with tyrannical royalty over the mystical forest of Kantara, blending history, folklore, and action. The story shows how Berme, a foundling in the forest, rises to protect his people and nature from encroaching greed, setting the stage for the events of the first film.
 
Title & Concept:


Full Title: Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (or Kantara: Chapter 1).
Prequel: It tells the backstory and origins of the mythology introduced in the first Kantara film. 
 


Key Story Elements:


Setting: Pre-colonial, 4th Century CE, focusing on the Kadamba dynasty.
Protagonist: Berme (Rishab Shetty), a mysterious boy found in the forest, who embodies divine protection.
Conflict: A battle between the local tribes, the divine forces of nature (Panjurli/Guliga), and the greedy, exploitative Bangara kingdom.
Themes: The deep connection between man, nature, divinity, and the roots of the Bhoota Kola tradition. 
 


Cast:


Rishab Shetty (Berme)
Jayaram (King Vijayendra)
Rukmini Vasanth
Gulshan Devaiah (Prince Kulashekhara) 
 


Director:


Rishab Shetty