Rishab Shetty bags ‘Silver Peacock’ Special Jury Award for ‘Kantara’ at IFFI

BENGALURU: A day after the release of vibrant first look of ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, which got on the floors on Monday, filmmaker and actor Rishab Shetty bagged the ‘Silver Peacock’ Special Jury Award for ‘Kantara’ at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The film explores the ideological conflict between humans and nature.

According to the media release of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, “Critically acclaimed Indian Filmmaker Rishabh Shetty has bagged ‘The Special Jury Award’ for Kantara. The jury’s citation for the Indian Director notes, “For the director’s ability to put across a very important story. The film, though rooted in its own culture of the forest demons, reaches out to audiences regardless of culture and social status”.

Shetty’s film explores the ideological conflict between humans and nature in a fictional village, delivering a poignant message amidst a clash of traditions and modernity.

Earning a mention from the Jury is always significant, and this year the brilliant @shetty_rishab has claimed the honour!

Indian Actor @shetty_rishab takes home the 'Special Jury Award' at #IFFI54 for his captivating performance and masterful storytelling in… pic.twitter.com/r9DoQhGK7h

— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) November 28, 2023

Filmmaker Rishab Shetty is known for his critically acclaimed blockbuster ‘Kantara’ in the Kannada film industry. He is recipient of several accolades, including the Best Children’s Film at the 66th National Film Awards for ‘Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai’, his directorial debut, and the entertainer ‘Kirik Party’.

The award is given to a film for any aspect which the jury wishes to acknowledge/award, or an individual for his/her artistic contribution to a film. The award consists of a Silver Peacock medal, Rs 15 lakh purse and a certificate.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1980531

Set in a fictional village of Dakshina Kannada, the film explores the ideological conflict between humans and nature. The co-existence of a tribe living with the forest is hampered by a forest officer who feels certain practices and rituals followed by the tribe pose a threat to Mother Nature. He questions the existence of their demigod which swirls a battle of ego along with traditions and culture associated with the land.

Shiva, the protagonist, is a top racer at the Kambala festival and poses a serious threat to the Forest Department as he continues hunting, illegal cutting and selling of precious forest trees. The Forest Department grills Shiva and his mates for vandalising the forest. The tribe believes that the forest was donated to them by a king aforetime. Whether Shiva is be able to reinstate peace and harmony in the village, perceiving his existence, forms the crux of the film.

The film ‘Kantara’, produced by Hombale Films, bagged the most prestigious ‘Silver Peacock’ award. With this award, another feather was added to Hombale’s crown. Hombale Films is known as the most prestigious production house in the country. The film grabbed wide attention of the international film industry and made it look towards the Kannada film industry, which now has won the prestigious award.

Delighted to announce that #Kantara has written a new chapter in Kannada cinema history, winning the inaugural Silver Peacock Award at @IFFIGoa! @PIB_India #IFFI54@shetty_rishab @VKiragandur @hombalefilms @HombaleGroup @gowda_sapthami @actorkishore @AJANEESHB @ChaluveG… pic.twitter.com/wvBsGK7Gtk

— Hombale Films (@hombalefilms) November 28, 2023

‘Kantara’, directed by Rishab Shetty, created a record of being the first film to win this award for the first time in Kannada.

Actor Shankar Nag won this award for the first time in the 70s for his performance in the film ‘Ondanondu Kaaladalli’. But this is the first time that a Kannada movie is getting this award in the movie category.

Currently, the first look of ‘Kantara Chapter 1’ is out, and fans are excited to watch the movie. The poster and the teaser have received great response from fans and shooting of the film will start next month.