“Kantara” Directed by Rishabh Shetty, “Kantara” is not a film but an experience. Experience an unforgettable piece of art. Artwork from the first frame to the last frame. A piece of art that never batted an eyelid about a tradition never heard of in life, made in an unfamiliar language and with no idea about that society. I don’t think of this movie as just a movie. This is pure art. This masterpiece can only be properly enjoyed in theaters! So, don’t wait for OTT.
Background of “Kantara”
Kantara or Kantar is a mysterious and awe-inspiring forest in Indian history. which is also mentioned in the Ramayana and in the astrology of Varahamihira. Kantara is an emotional film about the coastal forests of Karnataka, the people living around them, their emotions, human desires, the law-tradition conflict, and ultimately the relationship between God and man. But at the end of the day, the film is about the god who protects the Kantara forest choosing his successor at the right time.
The movie begins as usual i.e. “In a kingdom there was a king”. But the way of telling and the tone is very simple, simple and straightforward. The audience is left in no doubt about this forest and its connection with the gods!
The father of “Shiva” is a divine dancer (Varaharupi Bhoot, Panjurli) in the Bhoot Kola tradition/festival, and he tells this story to Siva and his brother and sisters. His father mysteriously disappears in “Kantara”. Daiva means God, the God who protects Kantara. According to tradition “Daiv” is a place of respect and importance. But when a human tries to violate the laws of divine power, nature, it is believed that the gods will destroy him. And so it happens.
Briefly about the story “Kantara”
I will not give the story of the film here. Because as said earlier this experience should be reserved for the cinema! Still, the story must be talked about. The story of Kantara is not a single thread, but a cord woven together by many threads. Which keeps the audience glued to the chair from the first minute. The background of all this is the forests, the simple people living around the forests. Also this story is about the hardworking nature of a forest officer.
Above is the story of the king’s estranged descendants and his hidden machinations. The story is loose. While reading the list seems long, there are not too many characters here. Although the main character is “Shiva”, the real main character in English as Protagonist in my opinion is Dev!
Rishabh Shetty has little to praise. Because, Rishabh is also the director, writer and lead actor of this movie “Shiva”. It was important to show Shiva as a rebel in the eyes of the villagers. Otherwise Shiva’s journey from the rebellious, unnatural, arbitrary and irresponsible world to the responsible and divinely ordained world of God would not have been complete! This path intersects with the hard work of the forest officer “Murali”, the “Sahib” stands in the way of the desire of the king’s descendants. Later his girlfriend “Leela” also joins the forest department which gives some subtle twists to the story.
“Shiva” is a capable but wasted boy, according to the village community. However, when there is a crisis in the village, everyone depends on Shiva. From my experience I can definitely say that the arguments of the villagers with the forest officials are true. These cases still fly today. I will write about their reasons later. Let’s just remember that clapping is not done with one hand for now.
Since Shiva is a rebel, but he is strong-willed, the Sahib or Raja tries to take advantage of his impulsive nature. Then Shiva gets caught between this government machinery and the greedy king. A tragic event takes place in him which is the murder of a straight-faced “Guruva”. Watch the movie for how and why the killing happens.. But this incident makes Shiva think. Finally he has a “darshan”.
The plot of the story is straightforward. Characters are bold and precise. It is pertinent to mention here that the story and plot of Kantara would not have been complete if Kishore Kumar ji had not played the roles of forest officer “Muralidhar” and Achyut Kumar as “Sahib” or “Devendra Sutthuru”. Mansi Sudheer also plays Shiva’s mother Kamala, and Saptami Gowda as Shiva’s love interest “Leela”.
Watching the movie, this congregation will not feel out of place or different anywhere. Saptami should be commended for showing that a woman working in the forest department as a “guard” during the mid-1990s is not easy to show on screen! She perfectly portrays the psychological conflict between the two roles of a village girl and a guard in the forest department and the love affair with Shiva in the background.
Overall what struck me was the vow to maintain the balance of the gods and protect the forests. There is constant conflict, imbalance on screen almost throughout the film. Therefore, the audience also remains a bit engrossed. Because every conflict is about “what happened next?” This question comes with no clue! In the end, there is a huge conflict between simple naive people, their interests, the machinery that stands alongside them and human greed and desire. And fortune is born, manifest! Daiva appears and takes the form of Rudra to observe his vow. puts an end to this conflict. Once peace is established, Shiva finally departs on the path of the ancestors, giving the initiation to balance. Leela is pregnant.. The cycle continues!
“Kantara” Shiva, Daiva and Varaha
Throughout the film, Shiva sometimes looks like a god and sometimes looks like a boar. Unfortunately, we have forgotten the concept of boar. But Varaha worship is still practiced in the south. Fortune and tradition are mocked in our “progressive” society. It is also depicted in a subtle way in the film. However, the best and sometimes most thrilling depictions of these bhasas of Shiva will be seen. A boar appears whenever “Shiva” strays from his path and an oracle appears whenever some suggestive interpretation is desired. This is my understanding, viewers are free to make their own guesses!
I am proud that India still has artists who respect our traditions. Rishabh Shetty has weaved the bhaas to Shiva so beautifully in the story that the audience starts to believe in those bhaas too after some time. A kind of poetic choreography begins here. What the poet says is the truth. Religion is the root of any work of art.
“Kantara” performance
The best aspect of Kantara is the presentation! It is said that film is a visual storytelling. Kantara is exactly that. Acting is great but the right choice of location is important. Unless there is a proper backdrop of forests, everything is wrong.
Acting
Rishabh Shetty is the main character and he has performed his role well. What I loved was the confidence that he, Shiva, exuded on screen. Moment by moment he realizes that Rishabh is mistaken for “Shiva”. The juxtaposition of forest officer Muralidhar as Kishore Kumar and Sahib as Achyut Kumar is well put together. These two are antagonists. This juggling act has become a sight to behold. The skeptical expression on Kishore Kumar’s face and the crooked expression on Achyut Kumar’s face are clearly visible. Saptami Gowda looks great as a normal and yet somewhat emotional young lady of that village. Shiva’s mother Mansi Sudhir has a few jobs. She has played the role of a mother of a boisterous child well. Shiva’s sadistic friends provide a light space to breathe in this serious story. What is particularly commendable in acting is the use of the face and the focus on it. The eyes of fortune look eloquent and disturbing. God’s voice and facial expressions capture the mind. Didn’t understand Shiva’s screams at first but when the end of the movie comes the secret of making his face like that is understood. The high level of the director and the actor was seen here! As Chota hints, Shiva is always shown screaming with his mouth fully open, baring his teeth. why You see the rest in the movie itself. Find the answer there.
And yes.. Rishabh’s performance in the last 10-15 minutes is amazing but a challenge and a datum given to every actor who calls himself an “actor”. I think sometimes you really need to “get in” to act like that. Because some things are superhuman and their presentation requires the transmission of such superhuman power.
Original Marathi Article by – Rohit Bapat “कांतारा” एका अविस्मरणीय कलाकृतीचा अनुभव”
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