Kantara 1: Junior artiste drowns in Karnataka river; shoot halted

Udupi district (Karnataka), May 7 (PTI) A junior artiste working on upcoming Kannada film 'Kantara: Chapter 1' drowned in Souparnika river in Udupi district, prompting a temporary halt in the shooting, police said on Thursday.

The deceased artist is identified as M F Kapil.

M F Kapil allegedly entered the river for a swim when he was swept away by strong currents on Wednesday. A prompt search and rescue operation was launched by the fire department and local authorities, and his body was recovered later that night, they said.

According to the superintendent of police, Udupi district Arun K, a case of unnatural death has been registered at the Kollur police station, and investigations are underway.

According to eyewitnesses, his leg got entangled in river weed at a depth of 10 feet, some distance from where he drowned.

Kapil was part of the crew of 'Kantara: Chapter 1', the prequel to the critically acclaimed 2022 film Kantara, which brought national attention to coastal Karnataka’s folklore and traditions.

While Kapil did not appear in a lead role, he was recognised among junior artistes in the industry for his commitment to the craft.

The Mumbai-based All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has urged the Karnataka government to conduct a thorough probe into the death of Kerala-based junior artist M F Kapil.

In a post on the social media handle on X, the AICWA has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to direct the authorities to file an FIR against Rishab Shetty and his company and also announce Rs. 1 crore for the next of kin of the deceased artist.

In a release, the promoters of the film ‘Hombale Films LLP’ termed the death of Kapil as "very unfortunate".

It clarified that the incident had not occurred on the sets of the film or during the shooting, but quite a distance from the site of the shooting, and after the day’s work.

The production team has faced multiple setbacks in recent weeks. A bus transporting junior artists had overturned in Kollur earlier, though no injuries were reported.

In a separate incident, a large and expensive film set was destroyed by strong winds and heavy rain. Additionally, the crew has come under scrutiny from the forest department for allegedly disturbing the natural habitat in the ecologically sensitive region.

Specialist in ritualistic theatre (Bhoota worship) in the coastal districts, Parava Poojary, apprehended that these were ominous things.

The powerful deities give these signals if the filmmaker, writer, or a ritualistic theatre personality deviates from the path of truth about the legends connected to these deities.

He recalled that religious people have already warned Rishab Shetty and his team about certain ‘aberrations’ that might have occurred during the making of Kantara and now its prelude, Kantara 1.

Despite the recent tragedy and production challenges, the filmmakers have confirmed that the release date of Kantara: Chapter 1 remains unchanged—October 2, 2025. PTI