Film conversations: Kantara (2002) & Kantara: A Legend-Chapter 1 (2025)

Kantara is turning out to be a sleeper hit, running chiefly on the fuel of word of mouth.  Very rarely do I venture into a multiplex, but when the family insisted that it was our 'national duty' to watch this film since everyone else was, just as during Dangal, I had to give in.  But of course, my grouse is about the multiplex experience, not the film per se; the film itself is first rate.  

Think of Thithi in terms of the rustic rawness, and you have it in this.  Think of Jallikattu in terms of beautifully lit night scenes in the jungle and background music, and you have them in this.  Think of the eerie jungle mystique of Churuli, and you have that here.  Think of Karnan in terms of the village being under siege and the villagers fighting back against the police/landlord, and you can see the similarity.  

But then Kantara is not confined to any of these descriptions; it stands alone in its own right as a showcase of the culture of Uttara Kannada/Malenadu/Udupi regions of Karnataka, specifically of bhuta kola, or the spirit dance/worship artform.  The situations and dialect is so true to the region, that even Kannada audiences need to read the subtitles sometimes to make sense of the drama, which comes with a smattering of Tulu, the local language.  

Kantara could have ended up like a documentary, but the makers have come up with a clever combination of intrigue, culture, spirituality and humour to keep one engrossed for the two and half hour duration of the film.  I could almost taste the ele-adike (betel leaf & nut) in my mouth as the scenes showing the natural beauty and culture of Kundapura unfolded.  And as touted, the denouement is captivating.  There are sexual innuendos and swear words throughout, which makes it difficult to classify this as a family film.    

The film is not without flaws: it could have lingered on certain moments instead of the breakneck pace we get to see, the change in the landlord's and police officer's characters could have been shown more convincingly, the mother's lament that her son is walking in the footsteps of his father is not explored fully, the entire romantic/sexual angle could have been more implicit or even eliminated, and the background music, though excellent, could have been toned down a bit, but I suspect this is down to the multiplexes jacking up the volume rather than any fault of the makers.  

Kantara goes to show what can be achieved by focusing on our indigenous culture, rather than the standard Bollywood fare that major production houses dish out.  It also demonstrates the stature of regional, especially South Indian, cinema that is growing with every outing.  Not least, this is a successful demonstration of the untapped cinematic potential of our culture, spirituality, smritis, shrutis, puranas, and itihasas, which, if Kantara's success is any indication, we will be thankfully seeing more of.   

The only blemish on Kantara is that one of its songs appears to be more than 'inspired' by another music group's song which is at least five years old.  It would be prudent for Kantara's makers to acknowledge this if they haven't done so, and give due credit to the original song's makers.  

This does not, however, diminish what Kantara otherwise achieves.  In a time when needless remakes of old classics or films from other languages are the norm - not to mention the biopics galore on every conceivable high achiever - Kantara is a rare danta kathe, or a folktale, that is remake-proof: neither is it a remake of anything else, nor can anyone remake it into another language given that it is a product of a specific local culture.  

So, well done to the entire team.  Highly recommended viewing!  

Kantara: A Legend-Chapter 1 - update November 2025

Subtlety is often the casualty at the altar of grandiosity. 

Kantara, unfortunately, has fallen prey to this phenomenon. 

Sadly, the legend has been somewhat superseded by stardom. When rousing music welcomes the hero and he mouths words such as 'did I arrive late?' upon entry - ostensibly to other characters, but really to his doting fans - you should know that stardom and onscreen persona have taken a higher position than the story. 

I believe the brief given to the makers by the producers was to reimagine the first one on a much grander scale. Only, it has ended up becoming louder and needlessly complicated. Bigger does not always mean better, and this one is certainly several notches below the first one. If only they had focused more on the actual bhuta kola tradition and the bhakti aspects. 

The plot appears fully fictitious, as opposed to partially fictitious that the first one was. This one does not add to or explain the story of the first one. 

One scene - the fight upon a disintegrating temple chariot - appears very similar to the wheel-fight scene from one of the Pirates of the Caribbean installments. The setting and plot is somewhat reminiscent of the Kannada classic, Ondanondu Kaladalli, although I must hasten to add that the latter, though dated, is far superior. 

I hope the makers resist the temptation to milk the franchise, or, at the very least, keep it subtler and relevant to the bhuta kola legend. 

Can't stand another pointless adu innondu danta kathe. 

Picture sources: 

• https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/rishab-i-always-aim-to-reflect-issues-of-society-1147789.html
• https://www.google.com/search

 

Who wants to be a doctor (in Karnataka)?

So the dust from the recent doctors' strike has settled, and the diluted Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act has been enacted quietly.

But Karnataka has got to be the worst place for a medical practitioner.  And the KPME Act has nothing to do with this.

The KPMEA is only the latest in a long list of insults that have been meted out towards the practitioners of the 'noble profession.'

As though the tough-as-nails medical course were not enough, each of us doctors has been through hell and high water to try and eke out a living.

Find that hard to believe?  I don't blame you; especially in these times when news channels proclaim striking doctors to be 'Yama's agents.'  

Consider the odds stacked against us: difficult course that one manages to scrape through; even more difficult PG entrance exams; bottle-neck in the form of dime-a-dozen medical UG colleges, but not enough PG seats; capitation fees to get into UG and PG courses; sleepless on-call nights; dog's work in the wards/OTs/OPDs; climbing mountains to establish oneself as a 'sought-after' doctor, assaults on doctors, non-recognition of foreign PG degrees, etc, etc. 

During all this, family/social life goes for a toss and you can pretty much forget about hobbies, alternative interests, and life outside the daily medical grind.  By the time you get round to your hobbies and interests again, you are well past your prime. 

One can't even change jobs like those in technical professions can.  Once a doctor, always a doctor.  You got to struggle on endlessly, even if you earn a pittance in comparison to the IT-BT lot who easily earn twice or thrice as much. 

It is a strange dilemma that a doctor finds him/herself in: deficiency in the midst of plenty.  Indian economy is up and running, but the healthcare professional strangely finds him/herself left out of the Indian success story.  

Setting up a private practice is a case of hit or miss.  You may or may not click with the patients, who can be rather fickle when it comes to following up with you, and loath to pay consultation charges.  In any case, it takes years to make a name for yourself. 

In the hospital set up, you need to tow the line of the management, and accept a pre-set salary or 'cuts' from the consultation charges, which are rather like seedless peanuts!

So you are left with a job that you do not enjoy, and that does not provide you with anything substantial to set up home and raise a family.  This is especially true if you happen to live in a high-living-cost city, such as Bengaluru. 

The effect of all this?  Disillusionment; burn out and drop outs.  I have seen many doctor friends leaving the country in search of a better deal.  Some have altogether dropped out of the profession and started business ventures.  Some have contemplated suicide.

Yes, we have encountered and are still putting up with many 'KPMEA's in our lives as doctors. 

Basically, the recent fiasco from the state government has highlighted three issues, as I see it:

1. the general public wants first-class service at the lowest cost, preferably free of cost
2. the doctors want a fulfilling career that provides them with financial security on par with other vocations
3. the government (in the ideal world) would want a seamless primary and secondary care service that satisfies both stakeholders; public and healthcare professionals

At the moment, none of these three issues are being addressed, even with the implementation of the KPMEA. How can one put a cap on healthcare services without capping other non-essential services that are being allowed to jack up prices wantonly.  Go, for example, to a multiplex and see for yourself how much you have to shell out for the ticket and food. 

What is the solution?  There is none that is perfect, but we are looking at a scenario where the medical service is free to the public, but at the same time, the hospital and the healthcare providers are compensated suitably.

The state owned NHS of UK (even though many in that country find faults with it) comes to mind as a service that achieves just this.  Free healthcare funded for by the taxpayers' money that is deducted at source.  

On the other side of the pond, the US healthcare is largely privately provided, with insurance system covering the cost for the patient.

We need to look at these and other models to decide the best suitable healthcare delivery system that can be adapted to our conditions.  Mindlessly capping fees and charges in an increasingly capitalized and corporatized society is not going to cut it.

Somehow, I cannot see the present government of Karnataka making any thoughtful, pragmatic changes in this regard, given the fact that it has its eyes set on the upcoming state elections.

So, dreadful, populist measures such as Indira Canteen and KPME Act will continue to be inflicted on the unsuspecting populace, as this government attempts to revive the dynasty that has clearly done its time.  

Governments will come and go.  The doctor in Karnataka will continue to suffer.

Please also read article on assaults on doctors, and who should become a doctor in this article and video.

Image source: http://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/ckeditor_images/article/2017/5/18/Consulting.jpg