2025 · Film
Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
Rishab Shetty's Kannada prequel to Kantara (2022), set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, tracing the mythical origins of the region's sacred traditions and divine guardians.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is streaming in India on Prime Video with a subscription.
- Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026Open ↗
The story
Set in coastal Karnataka during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty, this prequel to Kantara explores the origins of the forest's sacred traditions and its guardian spirits, Panjurli and Guliga. Berme, a foundling raised by a tribal woman, grows into a fearless warrior bound to the Kantara forest. When the rulers of the neighbouring kingdom of Bangra turn their eyes towards the forest's sacred land and its people, Berme stands in their way.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Anyone who liked the original *Kantara*, or is drawn to folklore, faith and nature-centred mythology will find the most here. The story covers land rights and tribal resistance against a tyrannical king, with large-scale action over nearly three hours.
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
This is a prequel to Rishab Shetty's Kantara (2022). It explores the origins of the tradition and the ancestral conflict introduced in that film. You can watch them in either order, but seeing Kantara first gives the mythology more context. Hombale Films produced it, and Shetty directed, co-wrote and stars in it.
The film opened worldwide on 2 October 2025 in Kannada, with Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam dubs, and in IMAX. Shortened English and Spanish versions followed on 31 October 2025. Prime Video began streaming the Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam versions on 31 October 2025 and added the Hindi dub on 27 November 2025. Wikipedia reports a worldwide gross of about ₹850 crore, making it the second-highest-grossing Kannada film. It won four Kannada-category INCA Awards in 2026, including Best Film and Best Director.
The facts
- Language
- Kannada
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Mythological action drama, Period drama
- Runtime
- 169 min
- Certificate
- U/A 16+
- Director
- Rishab Shetty
- Cast
- Rishab Shetty, Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is streaming in India on Prime Video with a subscription.
- Is Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 available in Hindi?
- Yes. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 was made in Kannada, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available on Prime Video.
- Is Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 suitable for children?
- Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 has a CBFC U/A 16+ certificate, which means it is suitable for viewers aged 16 and above; younger children should watch with a parent.
- How long is Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1?
- Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 runs for 2 hours 49 minutes (169 minutes).