By News18,Shreyanka Mazumdar

Copyright news18

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 is not just winning over audiences — it has also drawn big endorsements from industry heavyweights Yash and Jr NTR. The prequel, which hit theatres on October 2, is being hailed as a milestone for Kannada and Indian cinema, with both stars calling it a benchmark achievement.
Yash hails Rishab’s vision
On social media, KGF actor Yash wrote: “Kantara Chapter 1: The New Benchmark for Kannada and Indian Cinema. @rishabshettyofficial, your conviction, resilience, and sheer devotion are evident in every frame. As the writer, director, and actor, your vision translates into a truly immersive experience on screen.”
Yash also celebrated the cast and crew behind the film: “Heartfelt congratulations to @vkiragandur sir and @hombalefilms. Your vision and unconditional support for ambitious projects are continually raising the industry’s bar. @rukminivasanth and @gulshandevaiah78, you delivered brilliant, powerhouse performances… @b_ajaneesh, your music breathes life into those frames. Arvind Kashyap, your spectacular camera work brought that world to life. Together, you all have crafted absolutely phenomenal cinema.”
A grateful Rishab Shetty responded: “Your journey and vision has always been an inspiration, sir. To witness your achievements today fills me with pride. Thank you for always standing by me and supporting my work.”
Jr NTR joins in
Echoing Yash’s admiration, RRR star Jr NTR also showered praise on the film. “Congratulations to the team of #KantaraChapter1 on scoring a resounding success. Rishab Shetty sir pulled off the unthinkable by excelling both as a mind blowing actor and a brilliant director. My best wishes to the entire cast and crew, along with Hombale films, for fearlessly backing Rishab sir’s vision.”
A powerful prequel
Serving as the prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, the film dives into the origins of its legend, weaving together folklore, divinity and raw emotions. With praise pouring in from Yash and Jr NTR, Kantara Chapter 1 has been firmly stamped as one of Indian cinema’s most ambitious and celebrated films of the year.
Kantara Chapter 1 review
News18 Showsha gave the film 3.5 stars. An excerpt from the review read, “In a time when stories rooted in Indian culture are winning big at the box office, Kantara’s prequel needed a special hinge to avoid being labelled as ‘just another folklore film’. The heart of Kantara: Chapter 1 is its music (B Ajaneesh Loknath) and visual teams. The background score and the use of classical music to drive scenes are brilliant. Similarly, the cinematography (Arvind S Kashyap) and the VFX teams deserve all the accolades for creating a texturally rich film with believable effects. The attention to detail, especially the emotions of animals, is commendable.”