Kantara: Chapter 1, the second instalment of the Kantara franchise, has become the talk of the town. The prequel to the National Award-winning 2022 film has taken the audience back to the roots and given a clear view of ‘Shiva’s’ ancestors. For the unversed, Rishab Shetty, the director, portrayed the role of the protagonist, ‘Shiva’, in the 2022 blockbuster film, Kantara. However, the successful project has also received flak for its portrayal of women, especially ‘Shiva’s’ love interest ‘Leela’, played by Sapthami Gowda. In a recent interview, Rishab broke his silence on the criticism he had received.
Kantara: Chapter 1 director, Rishab Shetty, responds to criticism on women’s portrayal in Kantara
In a recent interview with News18 Showsha, Rishab Shetty broke his silence on the criticism of women characters in Kantara, following the release of the prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1. Reacting strongly to the flak, Rishab said that he doesn’t agree with the fact that Kantara is a ‘man’s world.’ Pointing out the character played by Manasi Sudhir in Kantara, Rishab mentioned that it was quite prominent and her role was very important. For the unversed, Manasi portrayed the role of ‘Shiva’s’ mother. Providing an example from a scene, the filmmaker explained how Manasi played a pivotal role in the movie. In his words:
“I don’t agree when you say that Kantara is a man’s world. The character of the mother (played by Manasi Sudhir) in the first film was very prominent. The character of the daiva nartak is key in the story, but the mother’s role is also very important. If you remember the climax, when I was performing a dance ritual by embodying a divine spirit, my mother was an integral part of it.”
