KANTARA'S VISUAL SOUL

MEET THE MAN BEHIND KANTARA'S MESMERISING MOODSCAPES

- BY NAMITA GUPTA

In the shadowed jungles of Kundapura, where mist curls around ancient trees and rituals echo through the silence, Arvind S.

Kashyap found his canvas and Kantara (2022) and Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1 (2025) its visual soul. As the cinematographer behind the film's hypnotic moodscapes, Arvind brings not just technical mastery but a deep-rooted reverence to every frame. Now six films into his creative partnership with Rishab Shetty, their synergy is instinctive, their vision unified. In this exclusive interview, Arvind opens up about crafting the mystical forest as a living character, shooting in remote terrains near Kodachadri, and how simplicity, trust, and tradition continue to guide his lens

When did your journey with the camera first begin, and what inspired you to pursue it professionally?

I was always obsessed with cameras right from my schooling days. My first was a Sony DI8 negative camera. I picked it up and began shooting short films back then. Later, when mobile phones with Nokia cameras arrived, I continued filming. I've been shooting since school and always wanted to make movies or be part of meaningful, quality content. The real obsession began during my engineering days at BMS College, where I was active in all cultural and film clubs. While in college, I got the chance to assist on a Kannada film called Lucia, a new-age movie. I joined the direction department, but by the end of the film, I transitioned into cinematography.

Can you talk about your first meetup with Rishab Shetty and your synergy working together?