Disclaimer: This article includes spoiler.

Rish Shetty starrer Kantara: Chapter 1 hit the silver screen on October 2, 2025. Written and directed by Rishab, the epic acts as a prequel of the Kanta of the mythological action-adventure 2022, which provides a deep insight into its rich knowledge.

If you have seen the film and are still surprised from the end, there is a detailed interpreter here.

Kantara: Chapter 1 explained

Kantara: Chapter 1 begins with a statement set centuries before the events of Kantara (2022). During the reign of the Bhangra dynasty, the king goes out to conquer all the land. As he gets into madness, he does not show any kindness to women, children or elders.

During such a victory, the king and his young son Vijayendra faced an old fisherman and ordered his execution. However, just before his death, a bag falls from a mysterious fisherman, revealing an array of precious spices. Away from greed, the hutota of the prohibited Ishwara, a holy masala garden, is allowed to access only the Kantara tribe.

Inspired by his wild ambition, the crazy king enters the forest only hatred and greed in his heart. As he sets the legs inside, Panjurli Daiva and Guliga Daiva manifest in their original forms and end their lives, causing her son Vijayendra to hurt.

The young prince returns to his kingdom and is crowned the king. He then releases a decree: no one is to enter the forests of Kantara. In those years, Vijayendra earns a reputation for being a justified and religious ruler. She eventually two children – Kulasekhara (played by Gulshan Devaiya) and Kanakavati. Meanwhile, inside a holy well inside the village of Kanta tribe, a young boy is discovered and adopted by a tribal woman, who names him.

Year pass. King Vijayendra stepped down and crown his son as a new ruler, while his daughter captured the treasury.

However, Kulasekhara proves to be careless and bhogi like his grandfather. One day, the king enters his village, interrupting peace in the forest of Kanta, only to move away by Burme (Rasha Shetty) and his friends.

Angered by infiltration, the Burme visits the kingdom and discovers that the spices from the holy garden of Kanta are being sold for precious items (barter systems) in return to the port of the Kingdom. Determined to control the future of his people, instead of allowing the state to exploit its resources, decided to cultivate and trade spices.

Despite the early stress, the barmes and Kanakavati (Rukmini spring) eventually reach a normal ground, even with developing her romantic feelings. However, his new business made Kulashekhara angry, which sends his ministers and soldiers to punish them. The soldiers are defeated, and the state loses control of its port.

Insulted, Kulashekhara attacked the village of Burme and killed his foster mother. At the moment his throat is dull, the Guliga Daiva comes out of the holy well and is near the barme. In a divine anger, the Guliga Daiva takes many forms and kills Kulasekhara in a similar way as his grandfather’s death.

Who was the true criminal of Kantara’s misfortune?

After the funeral of Kulasekhara, Vijayendra returned to the throne on his behalf with his daughter Kanakavati. As the preparation of the Brahmakalasha ritual begins, they notice a crack on the Shivling in their temple.

Advised by the royal priests, Kanakavati begged his holy deities to the state temple to restore balance and harmony with the Burme and Kantara tribe.

After the idea, the tribe agrees. A grand procession and prayer ceremony is held, restoring the glory of the temple. However, soon after this, the children in Kanta begin to faint and ill.

Something is wrong, Baram knows that Kanakavati is a true criminal behind Kantara’s misfortune. As a child, he was revived by the disease by a rival clan known as Kadapa. Along with him and Vijayendra (Jairam), the clan hatched a conspiracy to trap Daiva and exploit Hutota of Ashwara.

Due to no other option, the Burme rushed the entire Kantara tribe and declared a war against King Vijayendra and his daughter. During the fight, Kanakavati uses dark rituals to empower her father with mysterious abilities, making him a match for the bore.

As the two armies collide, mysterious fishermen again appear and advise the barme to recommend returning to the well to emerge once. There, the barme shows a hidden chamber with a Shivling and a divine trident.

On touching Trishul, the Guliga Daiva once again has a blessing. As Panjuri Daiva set fire to the king’s stronghold, the Guliga Daiva attacks Vijayendra, only can be stopped by Kanakavati.

Kanakavati then made fun of Guliga Daiva, asking if he would dare to put a finger on a woman. The Diva then replies that he will not touch her, but her sister, Chamundi (or Chavundi), Will.

Soon, near Chamundi is near the bars, converting it into an ardentary, a divine that is giving both masculine and feminine energy. She then moves forward to kill both Kanakavati and Vijayendra.

One myth ends, to start the other?

With peace and religion finally restored, the province jumps back into the same holy well, which he manifests, disappears forever.

As the story ends, the storyteller is questioned why the holy well is no longer seen to be seen. He simply smiles and replies that this is a famous story that is for another time. Therefore, the story teases the beginning of another prequel, Kantara: Chapter 2.