SPIRITED AWAY

With the Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 set for OTT release, here's a deep dive into the roots of Bhoota Kola, a tradition the movie is based on

- MAHIMA NAGARAJU

WITH actor Rishab Shetty's captivating depiction of the bhoota aradhane or daivaradhane tradition in Kantara, the spirit worship practice has catapulted to mainstream attention all over the state. With the release of the film's sequel, Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1, the fascination over the folk tradition reached new levels, with videos showing fans impersonating the 'spirit avatar'. Following this, the makers requested the audience not to indulge in impersonations out of respect for the centuries-old tradition, which is significant to communities in Tulu Nadu. If you have watched the movie, but wondered what the art form is all about, CE has got you covered.

Kannada Development Authority chairman and researcher Purushothama Bilimale points to the 14th and 15th centuries as the origin of the daiva aradhane tradition. "This is the time when the agrarian sector took over from shifting agriculture and the concept of private land ownership emerged in coastal Karnataka. During that time, forest-dwelling communities lost land ownership and it was occupied by Jain agriculturists," says Purushothama, pointing out that while the first movie dealt with similar themes of land and caste conflict, the sequel is 'historically inaccurate'.