This is a movie that has it all. A back story that resonates with some family myth we all have heard, the redemption of a local ruffian, action scenes, cinematography and BGM definitely best in class. The hero here is not suave as Rocky Bhai or unbeatable force of nature as Pushpa but a very flawed man who wears his heart on his sleeve and his axe on the enemy’s head. Rishab Shetty flawlessly transforms into the character and drags us into the world where man and myth intertwine. The skeleton of the movie is the same as any other blockbuster but the things that make Kantara different is the underlying myth and how they showcase it affecting the characters. Makers of the recent malayalam movie ‘Kumari’ (TLDW: Great movie for 95% time, spoiled by climax, likely due to financial constraints) should learn how to reveal or not to reveal eldritch characters in a movie.
The movie at times evoke those long dormant feelings that I used to get when I was kid going to the Kavu (sacred grove) for the annual rituals. The eerie silence broken by the screech of the bats, a rapidly slithering flash of silver and the smell of fallen flowers came back to my mind every time the Boothakolam was shown in this movie.
The presence was felt after a long time.
I was down with flu while I watched this movie and that probably let my guard down and made me open to those firmly shut doors to my subconscious and this rambling may be the virus and the damn kanji speaking but as I said earlier, if there is some divine in existence, Kantara has captured it’s essence.
To talk about the elephant in the room, yes I did find Varaharoopam similar to Navarasam but then nihil sub sole novum.
