Introduction: When Cinema Forgets Its Soul
Bollywood, once the beating heart of Indian storytelling, is standing at a crossroads. The industry that gave the world timeless masterpieces like Lagaan, Swades, Devdas, and Mother India now seems lost in translation, chasing Hollywood templates and digital-era trends.
But even as Bollywood dazzles with gloss, another voice, earthy, divine, and deeply Indian, is echoing from the heart of Karnataka.
That voice belongs to Rishab Shetty, the creator of Kantara (2022), whose upcoming prequel Kantara Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narasimha have reignited the conversation about what Indian cinema truly stands for.
These films are not just regional or mythological ventures; they are spiritual and cultural awakenings, reflections of a nation rediscovering itself through its own stories.
The question many are now asking is simple but profound:
Can Bollywood still speak the language of India?
Also read, Amit Shah’s Big ‘Swadeshi’ Warning to Trump: A New Economic Nationalism Rising in India
Bollywood’s Identity Crisis: From Bharat to Beverly Hills
For decades, Bollywood was synonymous with India’s cinematic identity. It shaped the nation’s aspirations, ideals, and imagination. But somewhere between Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, something shifted.
Modern Bollywood increasingly mirrors Western pop culture, not Indian ethos.
Themes of family, faith, sacrifice, and spirituality, once central to Hindi cinema, are often replaced by superficial glamour, urban elitism, and a detachment from grassroots India.
A generation ago, Hindi films celebrated India’s soil, the farmer, the saint, the artisan, the soldier.
Today, many scripts seem written for Instagram reels and global red carpets.
The result?
A disconnect between cinema and society.
Films may still earn crores, but they rarely stir the soul. The stories feel imported, the emotions synthetic, and the culture, borrowed.
Watch Kantara: A Film That Spoke India’s Forgotten Language
When Kantara released in 2022, it didn’t arrive with the fanfare of a massive budget or Bollywood star power. It arrived like a prayer, a film rooted in faith, folklore, and fierce devotion.
Rishab Shetty’s storytelling didn’t rely on Western cinematography tricks or urban humor. Instead, it celebrated the Bhuta Kola tradition of coastal Karnataka, a centuries-old ritual that merges man, spirit, and nature in divine harmony.
For millions across India, Kantara was a revelation:
- It spoke of divine justice, not courtroom drama.
- It portrayed faith as power, not superstition.
- It presented nature as sacred, not backdrop.
The audience connected not because the film was “different,” but because it was authentically Indian.
When the climax unfolded with Rishab Shetty embodying the divine avatar in trance, many viewers reported goosebumps and tears, emotions Bollywood rarely evokes anymore.
Kantara reminded filmmakers that India’s stories don’t need validation from the West, they need truth from within.
The Arrival of ‘Kantara Chapter 1’ and ‘Mahavatar Narasimha’: A Cultural Continuum
Now, with Kantara Chapter 1 gearing up for release, expectations are sky-high. The teaser featuring a majestic Rishab Shetty channeling raw divine energy has already sent shockwaves across the Indian film fraternity.
But more than excitement, it has ignited introspection.
The film explores the origins of the divine protector, possibly tracing the mythic lineage that connects human devotion to godly intervention a narrative rarely attempted in modern Indian cinema.
Similarly, Mahavatar Narasimha, reportedly delving deep into the spiritual philosophy of the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Vishnu, marks another cinematic milestone.
Together, these films stand as temples of storytelling not entertainment products.
They represent a filmmaking philosophy that treats the screen as sacred space, where art meets divinity, not just box office numbers.
Why These Films Resonate: Faith, Roots, and Real Emotion
Unlike many of today’s Bollywood blockbusters that depend on social media trends and item numbers, Kantara and Mahavatar Narasimha connect at a spiritual frequency.
Their appeal lies in three key pillars:
- Faith as Identity:
These films don’t shy away from portraying devotion, rituals, and divine experiences. They present faith as a living, breathing part of life, not a cultural inconvenience to be secularized for global comfort. - Roots as Power:
The narratives rise from India’s soil, its villages, forests, temples, and oral traditions. Every frame feels familiar, even if the language isn’t Hindi. - Emotion as Truth:
They are not crafted for the global festival circuit; they are sculpted for the Indian heart.
When Rishab Shetty’s Kantara or a mythological figure like Narasimha takes the screen, the audience doesn’t just watch they worship.
That’s the power Bollywood once wielded, but now often forgets.
Bollywood’s Western Obsession: The Cultural Drift
There’s nothing wrong with experimentation or global appeal. Indian cinema has always evolved. But the problem begins when Western imitation replaces Indian inspiration.
Consider the trends of the past decade:
- Romantic comedies set in London or New York.
- Characters speaking more English than Hindi.
- Storylines glamorizing nightlife, casual relationships, and consumerism.
- Visual tones mimicking Netflix aesthetics instead of Indian colors and textures.
This Western mimicry has diluted Bollywood’s cultural identity. While regional cinemas Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada are embracing their roots, Hindi cinema often seems embarrassed by them.
The irony?
Films rooted in Indian ethos (The Kashmir Files, Kantara, RRR) are outperforming Bollywood’s globalized projects at the box office.
Regional Cinema’s Rise: Bharat’s Stories Reclaim the Spotlight
The rise of Southern cinema is not just a cinematic shift it’s a cultural correction.
Films like:
- Baahubali (Telugu)
- KGF (Kannada)
- Kantara (Kannada)
- RRR (Telugu)
- Tumbbad (Marathi-Hindi crossover)
- Hanuman
…have proven that stories drawn from Indian mythology, folklore, and history have universal power when told authentically.
Meanwhile, many Bollywood studios are struggling with remakes, formula scripts, and social-media-driven narratives.
Rishab Shetty, Prashanth Neel, and S.S. Rajamouli are doing what Bollywood once did best believe in India.
The Spiritual Cinema Movement: A New Dawn
With Kantara Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narasimha, a new genre is emerging spiritual cinema.
Not mythological in the old sense, but spiritually awakened cinema that bridges human emotion with divine philosophy.
These films dare to say that faith and modernity are not opposites they coexist, they converse, and they complete each other.
This genre doesn’t preach religion; it celebrates reverence. It doesn’t reject progress; it redefines it.
It’s a reminder that India’s greatest stories lie not in skyscrapers or dating apps, but in its forests, temples, legends, and timeless dharma.
Bollywood’s Cultural Disconnect: A Wake-Up Call
Bollywood’s fading cultural connect is not accidental. It’s the result of years of:
- Urban elitism – ignoring Bharat for metros.
- Formulaic storytelling – focusing on profit over passion.
- Cultural detachment – fearing faith-based narratives.
- Global mimicry – chasing validation from Western critics.
The tragedy?
In trying to look global, Bollywood forgot how to feel Indian.
This disconnect explains why many big-budget Hindi films flop despite lavish promotions, while a small Kannada film like Kantara stuns the nation.
Learning From Kantara and Mahavatar Narasimha
Bollywood doesn’t need to copy Rishab Shetty it needs to learn from him.
Here’s what that means:
- Authenticity Over Aesthetics:
Cinema rooted in truth will always find its audience. - Cultural Confidence:
Show India’s spirituality without apology. - Local Stories, Universal Impact:
The more Indian you are, the more global you become. - Respect for Faith:
Religion and culture are not taboos they are treasures. - Emotion Above Ego:
Films must touch hearts, not just trend on hashtags.
If Bollywood absorbs these lessons, it can reclaim its lost magic not as a Western echo, but as a cultural voice of Bharat.
Audience as the New Director
The audience has changed. They no longer watch passively. They demand honesty.
They can spot cultural dishonesty in a frame, a line, or a costume.
They don’t want actors pretending to be Western icons; they want characters who reflect their own values, struggles, and spirituality.
This is why Kantara didn’t just succeed; it became a movement.
The audience made it a pilgrimage, not a product. In some theatres audience removed their shoes and footwear before entering to watch Mahavatar Narasimha.
The Return to Bharatiya Aesthetics
India’s visual storytelling has always been unique the vibrant colors, sacred symbols, and lyrical music.
But for years, Bollywood traded these for dull filters and pseudo-realism.
Films like Kantara Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narasimha are reclaiming that lost aesthetic blending realism with mysticism, grounding divinity in daily life.
They remind us that in Indian culture, the divine is not distant it walks among us.
The Way Forward: Reclaiming the Indian Screen
Bollywood’s salvation lies not in bigger budgets, but in deeper roots.
It must rediscover what once made it the soul of Indian identity.
That means telling stories of:
- The farmer who fights fate with faith.
- The devotee who finds god in the forest.
- The woman who reclaims her dharma in a modern world.
That’s where India’s cinematic renaissance lies not in copying Netflix thrillers, but in creating narratives that heal and inspire.
Conclusion: The Age of Cultural Renaissance
The success of Kantara was not a fluke; it was a prophecy.
It foretold the rise of a new Indian cinema one that honors its gods, respects its land, and loves its people.
With Kantara Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narasimha, this movement is reaching a crescendo.
They are not just films they are prayers in motion, a reminder that cinema is sacred when it speaks the truth of its soil.
Bollywood stands at the edge of this transformation.
It can either continue drifting toward Western mimicry or rise again as the torchbearer of Bharat’s cinematic soul.
The choice is clear.
As Amitabh Bachchan once said, “Cinema is a mirror of society.”
If that’s true, it’s time Bollywood cleaned the mirror and looked homeward.
