Kantara Chapter 1 producer opens up on ‘obstacles’ amidst shoot
Kantara Chapter 1 producer opens up on ‘obstacles’ amidst shoot
As per Chaluve Gowda, producer of Kantara Chapter 1, the film encountered challenges and was beset by mishaps all-through the shoot of the Rishab Shetty’s directorial film.
It was in the year 2021, when Kantara hit the silver screen and stormed the nation.
Made on a modest budget of ₹15 crore, the Kannada mythological thriller went on to gross over ₹400 crore. It’s been close to two years since the prequel – Kantara Chapter 1- went on the floors, but it was caught up with frequent delays. This, coupled with a bunch of accidents encountered by crew members, led to talks of a ‘curse’ on the production.
On the challenges Kantara Chapter 1 faced
Hombale Films’ co-founder Chaluve Gowda however, rubbishes these claims and addresses the challenges the film has faced. He wanted to clarify that there wasn’t any sort of misfortune that occurred on the set. Matter was blown out of proportion.It was just because the movie was of big canvas, that everything got connected.. that with the exception of one fire incident, the only thing that happened on set, everything else was normal.
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 amidst a break in the shoot. In June, Rishab and other cast members had a miraculous escape after a boat capsized in the midst of a shoot.
Again, there was no casualty, but cameras and other filming equipment are believed to have got lost in the surging water.
About the frequent accidents, Gowda says, they are all God-fearing people. Of course, every day they do puja and approach the God and take blessings first. Adding that before the announcement of the film, the team had visited coastal Karnataka and sought guidance from the deities. Prior to the announcement of the Kantara Chapter one,the makers met the priest and sought the God’s opinion, Panch. Their answer was, ‘You do this; there will be a few obstacles, but it will be successful.’”
Gowda says most of the obstacles have been because of the unfriendly terrain of coastal Karnataka, where the film was shot on location. “It was all dense forest area and the crew used to wake 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 far-away from the city. Added to this, weather played truant. Some of the action sequences were filmed in the rain, because never wanted to waste time as it was precious.
According to the producer, delays in filming he and the team would frustrate the but teases that the final product has been worth the wait. They cannot blame anyone.
The shoot for Kantara Chapter 1 concluded in July 2025. The film as of today is currently in post-production and for a theatrical release on October 2. Apart from Rishab, film also features Jayaram, Rakesh Poojari, and Rukmini Vasanth.
News Edit KV Raman
