IN a remarkable gesture of cultural diplomacy, Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar, is set to host the exclusive screening of the acclaimed Hindi film Kantara: A Legend — Chapter 1 at Platinum Cinema, Westgate in Harare on November 8.
The private viewing, organised in collaboration with ZimGold and RM, will bring together diplomats, government officials and members of the media to celebrate the growing bond between India and Zimbabwe through the universal language of cinema.
Released on October 2, the film’s premiere in India coincided with Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra, which are major national celebrations.
Gandhi Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, and is a day devoted to peace, truth and non-violence.
Dussehra, celebrated around the same time, symbolises the victory of good over evil in Hindu mythology, commemorating Lord Rama’s triumph over the demon king Ravana.
Together, these festivals reflect themes of righteousness and renewal of values which deeply resonate with the spirit of Kantara.
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Originally made in Kannada and later dubbed into several languages including Hindus, Kantara: A Legend — Chapter 1 runs for approximately two hours 50 minutes.
Since its release, it has become one of the biggest hits of 2025 for the Kannada film industry.
Kantara was written and directed by Rishab Shetty who stars in the film and produced by Hombale Films under Vijay Kiragandur & Chaluve Gowda.
The music and scoring were done by BAjaneesh Loknath.
The film Kantara is epic mythology that combines folklore action drama set in a historic period with strong links to tribal traditions and supernatural and spiritual elements.
It features principal characters Rishab Shetty plays the lead (character name: Barme), Jayaram in an important role, Gulshan Devaiah plays a key antagonist or royal character (Kulasekara) in the film and Rukmini Vasanth has a significant female lead role.
“The film opens in a dense forest region that the tribal community has lived in harmony with, under the protection of ancient spirits and traditions (especially the ritual of Bhoota Kola).
“The arrival or ambition of the royal power (kingdom/royalty) threatens the forest, its people and their traditions. Specifically, the character Kulasekara (Gulshan Devaiah) leads a foray into the forest-territory, burning the tribal village and sowing conflict.
“The protagonist (Barme) rises as the tribal guardian (eventually embodying or becoming the guardian spirit ‘Guliga’) to protect his people and forest from the tyrannical intrusion of the monarchy. Along the way, the narrative explores the origins of the ritual (Bhoota Kola), how nature responds to unchecked human greed/royal power and how the divine/spiritual becomes embodied in the tribal leader, including bridging mortal and mythic.
“The climax builds into a large confrontation, with nature, the tribal community, the spirits and the royal forces colliding. The film ends on a strong mythic‐note, establishing the groundwork for what will continue in future chapters (ie, it’s a prequel),” read the summarised highlights in part.
By showcasing this cinematic masterpiece in Harare, Kumar, the Indian envoy, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening cultural and bilateral ties with Zimbabwe.
Beyond entertainment, the screening offers a bridge between two rich heritages which are celebrating art, tradition and the timeless human pursuit of harmony between the earthly and the divine.
Bookings for the movie are underway.