2022 · Film
Kantara
Rishab Shetty's Kannada folklore thriller about a coastal Karnataka villager who clashes with a forest officer over land once promised to the community by a king.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Kantara is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
The story
In 1847 a king gives land to villagers in coastal Karnataka in return for a sacred stone guarded by the spirit Panjurli, who warns that betrayal will not be forgiven. Generations later, in 1990, the hot-headed Shiva is a buffalo-racing champion in that village, where the Bhoota Kola ritual is still performed. When forest officer Murali arrives to turn the villagers' land into a reserve forest, Shiva opposes him at every turn, while the local landlord's family takes a close interest in the dispute.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Viewers curious about Tulu Nadu folklore and ritual, or who like rural action thrillers with a spiritual edge, are the natural audience. It is rated U/A, runs about two and a half hours, and has fights and intense, loud ritual sequences that may unsettle young children.
tensemythologicalaction-packed
Genres:ActionThrillerMythologyDrama
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Kantara draws on Bhoota Kola, a spirit-worship ritual of coastal Karnataka, and on the region's Kambala buffalo races. Rishab Shetty wrote, directed and starred in it for Hombale Films on a reported budget of ₹16 crore. A prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, followed on 2 October 2025.
The film opened in Kannada on 30 September 2022, and its Hindi dub reached cinemas on 14 October 2022. Prime Video began streaming the South Indian versions on 24 November 2022, while Netflix took the Hindi version from 9 December 2022.
It grossed about ₹400–450 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Kannada films, and was the first Kannada film to earn $1 million in North America. At the 70th National Film Awards, Rishab Shetty won Best Actor and the film won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
The facts
- Language
- Kannada
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Folklore action, Thriller
- Runtime
- 148 min
- Certificate
- U/A
- Director
- Rishab Shetty
- Cast
- Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Kantara in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Kantara is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
- Is Kantara available in Hindi?
- Yes. Kantara was made in Kannada, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available on Netflix.
- Is Kantara suitable for children?
- Kantara has a CBFC U/A certificate, which means children under 12 should watch with a parent or guardian.
- How long is Kantara?
- Kantara runs for 2 hours 28 minutes (148 minutes).