Kantara is a Kannada film produced by Hombale Films, the production house that brought us KGF. It is directed and written by Rishab Shetty and he also features as the leading actor. The film is making waves and is running with House Full shows not just in Karnataka but also in Mumbai. It is basically a story of the conflict between a villager and a forest officer. But the element of caste, forest and of course the demigod Panjurli and the Bhoota Kola festival gives the film a unique touch. The way Rishab Shetty has brought alive the cultural aspect and worked hard over the authenticity is seen to be believed. At the same time, there are a lot of entertaining and thrilling moments to keep the interest going. Sadly, the film is confusing for those who are not aware of the minute details of the culture. Many will be compelled to search for ‘Kantara Explained’ articles and videos after exiting the theatre. The long length is also a shortcoming. Speaking of performances, Rishab Shetty is terrific, to say the least, and it's easily one of the greatest performances in recent times. Kishore is too good as the arch nemesis of the protagonist. Sapthami Gowda (Leela) leaves a huge mark and the same goes for Manasi Sudhir (Shiva's mother). Achyuth Kumar (Devendra Suttooru) is memorable. Prakash Thuminad (Raampa) is hilarious. Others also do well. The songs, background score, action and cinematography add to the impact. All in all, Kantara is worth watching and makes for a unique watch! Do give it a try in the original Kannada version (with English subtitles). Or else, you can wait till Friday, October 14 when the Hindi dubbed version will release in cinemas. (P.S.: DO NOT MISS THE BEGINNING)

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!