Latest news with #KantaraChapterone
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Daivas predicted Kantara: Chapter 1 would face obstacles,' reveals Rishab Shetty film's producer: ‘All the misfortunes that happened…'
Considering that Rishab Shetty's Kantara (2022) ignited a cultural firestorm, anticipation among audiences has been sky-high ever since the makers revealed they were working on a potential prequel to the action drama. With the release of each new promotional material for the project, titled Kantara: Chapter 1, the hype has only gone up further. Although the project has been a hot topic ever since its announcement, it hasn't been without its share of controversies. In recent times especially, Kantara: Chapter 1 has made headlines for all the wrong reasons, with a series of unfortunate incidents affecting it. In May this year, two members of the movie's cast passed away in unrelated incidents just days apart. While junior artiste MF Kapil from Kerala drowned in the Souparnika River near Kollur during a break in filming, comedian and television actor Rakesh Poojary passed away shortly after due to a heart attack. Earlier this year, the project had also found itself embroiled in controversy when locals raised complaints about the team's repeated use of explosives in an eco-sensitive area. In November last year, a minibus carrying 20 junior artistes working on Kantara: Chapter 1 had overturned near Jadkal in the Udupi district. Before that, a costly film set was damaged due to unexpected heavy rains and storms, impacting the production. Thus, Kantara: Chapter 1's production has been marred by tragedies and controversies since day one, leading many to believe that the movie is cursed. Now, the film's co-producer, Chaluve Gowda of Hombale Films, has stepped forward and dispelledsuch claims, affirming that Kantara: Chapter 1 is progressing well. 'I want to clarify whatever misfortune thing happened, nothing happened on the set. It was just because the movie was so big, everything got connected. Except for one fire incident, which is the only thing that happened on set, everything else was unconnected,' he told Hindustan Times. Chaluve Gowda further maintained that before the commencement of the movie's production, the team had offered prayers to Panjurli, who assured them that they would be able to complete the film, albeit not without obstacles. 'We are all God-fearing people. Of course, every day we do puja and approach the daivas and take their blessings first, before we do anything. Before the announcement of the Kantara Chapter one, we met the Panjurli and sought the Daiva's opinion, Panch. Their answer was, 'You do this; there will be a few obstacles, but it will be successful.'' For the unversed, Panjurli is a divine spirit of a male wild boar. The fact that a large portion of the film was shot in real, outdoor locations exacerbated the situation, he said, and increased the chances of such incidents. '80% of the movie was shot at real locations. All were away from the cities, which is so difficult. And then, there was unexpected weather. Some of the action sequences we shot in the rain, because we did not want to waste time,' he said. Also starring Jayaram and Rukmini Vasanth, the movie is penned and directed by Rishab Shetty who will also essay the lead role. The movie will hit the screens on October 2.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Is Kantara Chapter 1 Sets Cursed? Producer Says 'Whatever Misfortune Happened...'
Last Updated: Kantara, made on a ₹15 crore budget, grossed over ₹400 crore in 2021. Its prequel, directed by Rishab Shetty, faced delays and accidents, sparking 'curse' rumours. They say some stories aren't just told, they're lived, feared, and whispered about for generations. For Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1, it's not just the breathtaking visuals or raw performances that grab you but it's the shadow of an age-old curse that seems to haunt every frame. Nearly two years after filming began, the much-anticipated prequel to the 2021 blockbuster Kantara finally wrapped production. But the journey to the finish line was marked by multiple accidents and delays, fuelling online chatter about a supposed 'curse" on the set. Producer Chaluve Gowda has now spoken out about the same. Is Kantara Chapter 1 cursed? Speaking to Hindustan Times, Gowda denied that any supernatural influence was at play. 'I want to clarify whatever misfortune thing happened, nothing happened on the set. It was just because the movie was so big, everything got connected," he said. 'Except for one fire incident, which is the only thing that happened on set, everything else was unconnected." Gowda further said that the team had sought spiritual guidance before starting the project. 'We are all God-fearing people. Of course, every day we do puja and approach the daivas and take their blessings first, before we do anything," he said. 'Before the announcement of the Kantara Chapter one, we met the Panjurli and sought the Daiva's opinion, Panch. Their answer was, 'You do this; there will be a few obstacles, but it will be successful.'" Shooting in challenging terrain The majority of the film was shot on location in the forests of coastal Karnataka. Gowda described the demanding conditions saying, 'It was all interior forests. The crew used to get up at four o'clock, get ready by 4:30 and travel to reach the spot for a six o'clock schedule. 80% of the movie was shot at real locations. All were away from the cities, which is so difficult. And then, there was unexpected weather. Some of the action sequences we shot in the rain, because we did not want to waste time." Gowda acknowledged the frustration caused by the prolonged schedule but said the results justified the effort. 'We can't blame anyone. Sometimes we used to be frustrated as to why it's taken so long. But when we see the output. That is so good, we are assured that we are not wasting time." A string of accidents The production's challenges included a series of unrelated mishaps. In November 2024, a bus carrying crew members met with an accident near Kollur, Karnataka, though no injuries were reported. Two months later, in January 2025, a fire broke out while filming a large war sequence; again, no serious injuries occurred. In April 2025, a crew member drowned during a break in shooting. Then in June, a boat carrying Rishab Shetty and other cast members capsized during filming. While there were no casualties, filming equipment, including cameras, was lost to the water. About the film The original Kantara, directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, became a nationwide phenomenon in 2021. Made on a budget of Rs 15 crore, the Kannada mythological thriller grossed over Rs 400 crore, paving the way for a prequel. Kantara Chapter 1, also led by Shetty, went on floors close to two years ago but faced repeated schedule interruptions. The filming concluded in July 2025. Kantara Chapter 1 is now in post-production. The film, featuring Rishab Shetty alongside Jayaram, Rakesh Poojari, and Rukmini Vasanth, is slated for a theatrical release on October 2. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Kantara Chapter 1 producer says daivas warned of 'obstacles' during shoot of Rishab Shetty film, addresses 'curse' talk
In 2021, when Kantara arrived in theatres, it took the nation by storm. Made on a modest budget of ₹15 crore, the Kannada mythological thriller grossed over ₹400 crore, spawning a prequel, also starring and directed by Rishab Shetty. It's been close to two years since the prequel - Kantara Chapter 1- went on the floors, but it has seen frequent delays. This, coupled with a bunch of accidents faced by crew members, led to talks of a 'curse' on the production. Hombale Films' co-founder Chaluve Gowda addresses the making of Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1. On the challenges Kantara Chapter 1 faced Speaking with Hindustan Times, the film's producer, Chaluve Gowda, rubbishes these claims and addresses the challenges the film has faced. 'I want to clarify whatever misfortune thing happened, nothing happened on the set. It was just because the movie was so big, everything got connected,' he says. 'Except for one fire incident, which is the only thing that happened on set, everything else was unconnected.' In November 2024, a bus carrying crew members of the film met with an accident near Kollur in Karnataka, but everyone escaped unhurt. In January 2025, a fire broke out on the set while filming a large war sequence, but again, no one was seriously hurt. Four months later, a crew member of the film drowned during a break in the shoot. In June, Rishab and other cast members had a narrow escape after a boat capsized during a shoot. Again, there was no casualty, but cameras and other filming equipment are believed to have been lost to the water. Talking about the frequent accidents, Gowda says, 'We are all God-fearing people. Of course, every day we do puja and approach the daivas and take their blessings first, before we do anything.' He says that before the announcement of the film, the team had visited coastal Karnataka and sought guidance from the deities. 'Before the announcement of the Kantara Chapter one, we met the Panjurli and sought the Daiva's opinion, Panch. Their answer was, 'You do this; there will be a few obstacles, but it will be successful.'' Shot on location Gowda says a lot of the obstacles have been because of the unfriendly terrain of coastal Karnataka, where the film was shot on location. 'It was all interior forests. The crew used to get up at four o'clock, get ready by 4:30 and travel to reach the spot for a six o'clock schedule. 80% of the movie was shot at real locations. All were away from the cities, which is so difficult. And then, there was unexpected weather. Some of the action sequences we shot in the rain, because we did not want to waste time,' he tells us The filmmaker says he and the team would get frustrated by the delays, but teases that the final product has been worth the wait. 'We can't blame anyone. Sometimes we used to be frustrated as to why it's taken so long. But when we see the output. That is so good, we are assured that we are not wasting time.' The shoot for Kantara Chapter 1 concluded in July 2025. The film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 2. Apart from Rishab, it also stars Jayaram, Rakesh Poojari, and Rukmini Vasanth.
