During the climax, ‘Panjurli’ Daiva confronts forest officer Murali. He displays a special message for him and the villagers. Check out what the Daiva said.
The demi-god and the forest
Rishab Shetty’s Kantara talks about nature and culture, and how people have a special attachment to the wildlife surrounding them. The Kannada film also displays how the villagers purely decided to continue the Bhoota Kola tradition they and their ancestors have been following for years. Also, Rishab Shetty did an amazing job as a writer to show how the existence of divine power and the strength of the deity bring more importance to the villagers.
Kantara depicts nature as the binding force. A force that safeguards the people who take care of them and the villagers. There is also a scene that explains how the villagers are dependent on the forest for the vegetation, while Murali is trying to prevent the villagers from doing so. This narrative asks questions about why villagers can’t collect vegetation from the forest when they spend so much of their life protecting it. They are dependent on one another, and that cycle cannot be stopped.
The movie talks about ‘Panjurli’ Daiva, Varaha Roopa which protects the forest and its resources. The movie explains how the deity is emotionally attached to the village and the forest, and that the deity would do anything to protect it from evil forces.
Message to Murli
By the end of the film, Shiva (who was possessed by the Guliga Daiva), after killing the landlord (Devendra Suttooru (Achyut)), performs in the Bhoota Kola for the villagers and the Daiva, with the customs they follow.
At one point, he confronts Forest Officer Muralidhar Muralidhar (Kishore) and informs him that the forest belongs to the deity and that it doesn’t need any protection from anyone.
“You (Murli) step forward”
“All of the village and the forest belongs to me”
“It (the forest) doesn’t need any protection from anyone”
“I am here to safeguard it from evil.”
“Bring peace in the region, work together with the villagers”
By saying that, lord Panjurli performs the traditional Bhoota Kola dance. Later, the demi-god hears the shriek of his ancestor from the forest and merges with the forest — similarly dissolving into a circle of fire.
Here’s the scene:
