Kantara: Chapter 1 will hit the screens on October 2. (Credit: Facebook/@HombaleFilms)Considering that Rishab Shetty’s Kantara (2022) ignited a cultural firestorm, anticipation among audiences has been sky-high ever since the makers revealed they were working on a potential prequel to the action drama. With the release of each new promotional material for the project, titled Kantara: Chapter 1, the hype has only gone up further. Although the project has been a hot topic ever since its announcement, it hasn’t been without its share of controversies. In recent times especially, Kantara: Chapter 1 has made headlines for all the wrong reasons, with a series of unfortunate incidents affecting it.In May this year, two members of the movie’s cast passed away in unrelated incidents just days apart. While junior artiste MF Kapil from Kerala drowned in the Souparnika River near Kollur during a break in filming, comedian and television actor Rakesh Poojary passed away shortly after due to a heart attack. Earlier this year, the project had also found itself embroiled in controversy when locals raised complaints about the team’s repeated use of explosives in an eco-sensitive area.Also Read | John Abraham says he sleeps early, gets up at 4 am to ‘devour world news’: ‘I don’t attend parties, music is too loud and I don’t drink’In November last year, a minibus carrying 20 junior artistes working on Kantara: Chapter 1 had overturned near Jadkal in the Udupi district. Before that, a costly film set was damaged due to unexpected heavy rains and storms, impacting the production. Thus, Kantara: Chapter 1’s production has been marred by tragedies and controversies since day one, leading many to believe that the movie is cursed.Now, the film’s co-producer, Chaluve Gowda of Hombale Films, has stepped forward and dispelledsuch claims, affirming that Kantara: Chapter 1 is progressing well. “I want to clarify whatever misfortune thing happened, nothing happened on the set. It was just because the movie was so big, everything got connected. Except for one fire incident, which is the only thing that happened on set, everything else was unconnected,” he told Hindustan Times.Chaluve Gowda further maintained that before the commencement of the movie’s production, the team had offered prayers to Panjurli, who assured them that they would be able to complete the film, albeit not without obstacles. “We are all God-fearing people. Of course, every day we do puja and approach the daivas and take their blessings first, before we do anything. Before the announcement of the Kantara Chapter one, we met the Panjurli and sought the Daiva’s opinion, Panch. Their answer was, ‘You do this; there will be a few obstacles, but it will be successful.'” For the unversed, Panjurli is a divine spirit of a male wild boar.The fact that a large portion of the film was shot in real, outdoor locations exacerbated the situation, he said, and increased the chances of such incidents. “80% of the movie was shot at real locations. All were away from the cities, which is so difficult. And then, there was unexpected weather. Some of the action sequences we shot in the rain, because we did not want to waste time,” he said.Also starring Jayaram and Rukmini Vasanth, the movie is penned and directed by Rishab Shetty who will also essay the lead role. The movie will hit the screens on October 2.Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd