The end of Chapter 1 of Kantara explained: who is the true author of Mayhem and Rishab Shetty will he come back with the 3rd episode?

Warning: This article contains spoilers.

Rishab Shetty Starrer Kantara: Chapter 1 struck the silver screens on October 2, 2025. Written and produced by Rishab itself, the epic mythological adventure served as a prequel to Kantara in 2022, offering a deeper overview of its rich lore.

If you watched the film and you are still perplexed at the end, here is a detailed explanator.

Kantara: End of chapter 1 explained

Kantara: Chapter 1 begins with a narration centuries ago, according to the events of Kantara (2022). During the reign of the Bhangra dynasty, the king maintains to conquer all the land. Going down in madness, he makes no mercy, even women, children or the elderly.

During such a conquest, the king and his young son Vijayendi meet an old fisherman and ordered his execution. However, just before his death, a pocket falls from the mysterious fisherman, revealing a range of precious spices. Overcome by greed, the mad king follows the origin of the Hoototta spices of the prohibited Eeshwara, a sacred spice garden to which only the Kantara tribe is authorized to access.

Pushed by his wild ambition, the mad king enters the forest with only hatred and greed in his heart. As he sets out inside, Panjurli Daiva and Guliga Daiva manifest in their elementary forms and put an end to his life, leaving his son Vijayendra traumatized.

The young prince returns to his kingdom and is crowned king. He then issues a decree: no one should enter the Kantara forests. In the following years, Vijayendra won the reputation of being a just and dharmic sovereign. He ends up two children – Kulashekhara (played by Gulshan Devaiah) and Kanakavathi. Meanwhile, inside a sacred well inside the village of the Kantara tribe, a young boy is discovered and adopted by a tribal woman, who appoints him Berme.

Years pass. King Vijayendra descends and crown his son as a new sovereign, while his daughter takes up the treasure.

However, Kulashekhara turns out to be reckless and indulgent, a bit like his grandfather. One day, disturbing peace in the Kantara forest, the king enters their village to be driven by Berme (Rishab Shetty) and his friends.

Angry by the intrusion, Berme visits the kingdom and discovers that the spices of the sacred garden of Kantara are sold for precious objects in return (barter system) in the port of the kingdom. Determined to take control of the future of his people, Berme decides to cultivate and exchange spices himself, rather than allowing the kingdom to exploit their resources.

Despite the initial tensions, Berme and Kanakavathi (Rukmini Vasanth) finally reach common ground, with it by developing romantic feelings. However, their new trade is the anger of Kulashekhara, who sends his minister and soldiers to punish them. The soldiers are defeated and the kingdom loses control of its port.

Humiliated, Kulashekhara ripposted by attacking the village of Berme and executing his adoptive mother. As his throat is split, Guliga Daiva emerges from the sacred well and has Berme. In a divine rage, Guliga Daiva takes several forms and kills Kulashekhara in a strangely similar way to the disappearance of his grandfather.

Who was the true author of Kantara’s misfortune?

After the Kulashekhara funeral, Vijayendra returns to the throne, with his daughter Kanakavathi by his side. While the preparations start for a Brahmakalasha ritual, they notice a crack on the shivling of their temple.

Advised by the royal priests, Kanakavathi pleads to Berme and the Kantara tribe to move their sacred deities to the temple of the kingdom to restore balance and harmony.

After the deliberation, the tribe agrees. A large procession and a prayer ceremony take place, restaurant La Gloire du Temple. However, shortly after, Kantara’s children started to fall unconscious and sick.

Sometimes something is wrong, Berme realizes that Kanakavathi is the real author behind the misfortune of Kantara. As a child, she was removed from the disease by a rival clan known as Kadapa. With her and Vijayend (Jayaram), the clan conspired to trap the Daivas and exploit Hoototta d’Eeshwara.

Without any other choice, Berme relocated the entire Kantara tribe and declared war against King Vijayend and his daughter. During the battle, Kanakavathi uses dark rituals to allow his father mystical capacities, making it a match for Berme.

While the two forces clash, the mysterious fisherman reappears and advises Berme to return to the well where he emerged. There, Berme discovers a hidden room containing a divine shivaling and trishul.

By touching the Trishul, Guliga Daiva again has Berme. While Panjurli Daiva sets fire to the king’s bastion, Guliga Daiva hits Vijayendra, to be arrested by Kanakavathi.

Kanakavathi then laughs at Guliga Daiva, asking him if he would dare to put a finger on a woman. The Daiva replied when he will not touch it, but his sister, Chamundi (or Chavundi), will.

Soon, Chamundi owns Berme, the transforming into Ardhanishvara, a divine being embodying both male and female energy. She then proceeds to kill Kanakavathi and Vijayend.

One myth ends, so that another begins?

With peace and the Dharma finally restored, Berme returns to the same sacred well which he manifests, disappearing forever.

While the story ends, the narrator is questioned why the sacred well is no longer visible. He smiles and simply replies that it is a legendary story intended for another time. Consequently, history teases the beginning of another prequel, Kantara: Chapter 2.

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