Kantara: A Legend Chapter -1 Full Movie Download
2025
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Kantara: A Legend Chapter -1 Full Movie Download is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language epic period mythological action drama film written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films. The film stars Rishab Shetty along with Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah. A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara, The story delves deeper into the origins of the tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first film. Set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the film is expected to explore the ancient roots of the Bhuta Kola ritual and the lore and history explored in the first film released in 2022. Like its predecessor, the prequel would reportedly blend regional folklore, spirituality, and action, continuing the saga of man's relationship with nature and the divine.
During the events of Kantara, after Kaadubettu Shiva's father disappears during the Buta Kola ritual in 1970 in the mysterious circle of the forest, a young Shiva questions it in front of his friends and family, to which a villager responds that the circle is a ''dhantha kathe'', or legend.
The story begins during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty. Vijayendra, king of Bangra, orders the execution of a fisherman and discovers a pouch of precious spices that sparks his desire to seize the sacred spice garden located within the Kantara forest. When he enters the forest, the ganas of Eeshwara and guardian daivas, Panjurli and Guliga, manifest and kill him. His son, Rajashekara, traumatized by his father’s death, becomes the new king and decrees that no one should enter the forest. He is portrayed as a just ruler and fathers two children: Kulashekhara, who grows up reckless and indulgent, and Kanakavathi, the more loyal and obedient child.
In the village of Kantara, a sacred well holds a secret. A young boy believed to be born of divine will is found inside and adopted by a tribal woman, who names him Berme. As Berme grows up, he ventures beyond the forest and into the Bangra kingdom’s port after an encounter with the newly crowned King Kulashekhara and his minister, Bhogendra. There, he and his companions discover that the spices from the forest are being exploited through barter trade. Berme decides to cultivate and trade spices independently to support his people.
Berme and Kanakavathi develop a romantic connection. However, Kulashekhara, now ruler, is angered by Berme’s defiance and growing influence. He sends soldiers to punish the Kantara tribe, but they are defeated. Kulashekhara retaliates with a larger attack on the village. During this assault, Berme’s foster mother is killed, and the spirit Guliga emerges from the sacred well to possess Berme. Empowered, Berme kills Kulashekhara in a manner resembling Vijayendra's death.
Despite Kulashekhara’s death, unrest continues. Rajashekara returns to the throne with Kanakavathi. During preparations for a Brahmakalasha ritual, the temple’s Shivalinga cracks, threatening the balance between the spiritual and mortal worlds. Kanakavathi asks Berme and the tribal leaders to move their deities to the kingdom temple to restore harmony. The ritual is completed, but soon after, children in Kantara begin falling unconscious from a mysterious illness. Berme learns that Kanakavathi has been conspiring against the tribe. Revived in her childhood by the Kadapa clan, she planned with her father to trap the daivas and harness their power through rituals. She also encouraged Kulashekhara’s attack on the tribe.
Berme declares war against the Bangra kingdom. In battle, Kanakavathi strengthens Rajashekara with forbidden rituals of the Kadapa people. The fisherman from the beginning reappears and advises Berme to return to the sacred well. There, Berme discovers a hidden chamber with a Shivalinga and a divine trishul. Upon touching it, Berme is again possessed by Guliga. As Panjurli Daiva ignites a fire around Rajashekara’s stronghold, Berme confronts Kanakavathi. When she taunts the daiva, Guliga declares that her destruction will come from Chamundi, the goddess of feminine power. Chamundi possesses Berme, transforming him into Ardhanarishvara, a divine form embodying both Shiva and Parvati. In this form, Berme defeats and kills both Kanakavathi and Rajashekara, restoring peace to Kantara.
The film closes with Berme diving back into the sacred well and disappearing. The narrator from 1970 reflects on the legend, and the well is revealed as the same circle where Berme, Kaadubettu Shiva's father, and later Kaadubettu Shiva himself vanished, linking to Kantara: Chapter 2.