Cinema has never failed to charm me and whenever I thought that I had seen the cinematic marvel came a filmmaker who surprised me even further. Something similar has been the case with Kantara. While the film became a super hit, it is also the second-highest grosser of all time after KGF 2. Lots of praise is showered on the film’s director and actor Rishab Shetty for his storytelling and performance, I made sure not to miss the chance to have a chat with him at the 53rd edition of IFFI (International Film Festival) in Goa.
A humble man with a charming demeanor answered all questions with a smile. When I asked him how it felt seeing the response Kantara has received, he said…
It feels very normal, initially there was a pressure seeing the film go big and the way people reacted to the climax and the characters. But now it’s okay. This film was never made with the idea of becoming so successful, it was just another story I wanted to tell.
Talking about the changing narrative amongst the audience, Rishab shares…
The formula that we follow the most, has been going on for a very long time. But I always believed in the storytelling that our grandparents did for us, so my idea is to keep it more rooted, regional, that connects with the common audience. Language is no more a barrier, and filmmakers are adapting to the changes that the audience is witnessing.
He also spoke about the overwhelming response Kantara received, he said…
One success does not change me. I have the same approach always. When lots of big stars like Rajini Sir, Kamal Sir, called me up and appreciated the film, it was an emotional moment.
Kantara has been a cinematic marvel to witness and the film has also been released in several other Indian languages. And the National Award winner Rishab Shetty continues to do what he does best, tell us some amazing stories.