When Rishab Shetty let Bhoota Kola guide 'Kantara' and found a universal audience

Back in 2022, Rishab Shetty simply wanted to share the stories he had grown up hearing. Ancient tales whispered around fires, rituals that shaped identities, faith that flowed through generations. Those roots became the heartbeat of his breakout film, ‘Kantara’.

What began as a local story rooted in the spirit worship ritual of Bhoota Kola soon turned into a nationwide sensation. The film spotlighted native art forms like Yakshagana, Daivaradhane, Kambala and Theyyam, proving that cinema grounded in regional identity can speak a universal language.


In an interview with The Hindu, Shetty spoke about how stories that are culturally and regionally rooted can still feel universal. The more specific the landscape, language and ritual, he believes, the more people from different parts of India recognise something of their own histories in it. As he reflects on the rise of ‘Kantara’, Shetty sees more than success. He sees a blessing. Audiences connected so deeply with the spiritual power at the heart of the film that he calls their love dakshina, a heartfelt offering from viewers. He often reminds people that the world of ‘Kantara’ is not fiction for the communities portrayed. It is lived tradition. For them, this folklore is history, memory and faith that continues to breathe.

Folklore becomes a living screen memory

The journey now travels further back with ‘Kantara: Chapter One’, exploring the roots of this universe during the era of the Kadamba dynasty. The new film follows the clash between the forest tribes of Kantara and a ruthless ruler, once again blending man, nature and divinity into a single pulse. This prequel, which he has discussed in detail in agency interactions, expands the spiritual and emotional canvas first introduced in the original film. It deepens its portrayal of Bhoota Kola and other coastal rituals, not as spectacle but as the heartbeat of a community. For many viewers, returning to this world feels like stepping back into a familiar dream – only richer, more detailed and more moving.

Faith, ambition and a changing industry

Shetty continues to evolve with every film. He believes in breaking genre boundaries while staying true to one core philosophy – a connection to God and nature. Cinema, for him, is a responsibility to culture as much as it is an art form. He holds a firm belief that stories born from the land, rooted in language, rituals and ancestry, will always find their way to audiences everywhere. If the film carries truth, people will come to the theatres. Praise from legendary actors and filmmakers such as Rajinikanth, Ram Gopal Varma, Prabhas, Yash and Jr NTR has poured in, but Shetty remains grounded. He avoids comparisons and embraces gratitude above all else.

Looking back now, ‘Kantara’ was never just a movie. It was a moment when a filmmaker trusted his roots and let Bhoota Kola guide his storytelling. India responded with the kind of love that turns cinema into folklore. And now, as ‘Kantara: Chapter One’ unfolds, that folklore returns to its origin to sacred soil, to ancestral memory, to the glow of a ritual fire – only this time on a far bigger screen.



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