Kaantha, starring Dulquer Salmaan, has finally arrived in cinemas. Early reactions suggest that Dulquer has delivered one of the strongest performances of his career. The film had high buzz before release because of its intense trailer, rich visuals, and strong curiosity from fans of period dramas and thrillers. But the release week was not easy. Just days before the premiere, a controversy broke out when the grandson of M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar claimed the movie showed his grandfather in a bad light. The makers cleared the air and said the film is completely fictional.
Even with the noise, people still stepped into theatres with excitement. And now, many are sharing their thoughts online.
Kaantha Movie Review: What Viewers Are Saying
Early reviews are mostly positive. Many viewers are praising Dulquer’s acting and the film’s emotional tone.
One user said Dulquer has given one of his best performances as TK Mahadevan. They pointed out the mirror scenes, the interval moment and the scene where the heroine slaps him as proof of his strong acting. They also appreciated Bhagyashri Borse, Samuthirakani, Rana Daggubati, Gayathri Shankar and Nizhalgal Ravi for their impactful roles.
The same viewer said the first half works well because of the ego clashes, tension and the love track. They felt a couple of songs were unnecessary, but the interval block still worked as a solid hook.
The second half turns into a full investigative thriller. Rana Daggubati’s entry adds tension, though the viewer feels the investigation scenes slow down at times. Still, the twists, motives and emotional ending made the final stretch meaningful. They described Kaantha as a must-watch for its emotions, strong technical work and Dulquer’s standout performance.
Another viewer called the film “above average”. They liked the performances by Dulquer, Samuthirakani, Rana Daggubati and Bhagyashri Borse. They enjoyed the first half even though it felt slow, and found the second half decent. They called Kaantha a simple, one-time watch.
Check out some reactions below
What The Film Is About?
Kaantha is set in 1950s Madras. The story follows T.K. Mahadevan, a rising actor, and his mentor Ayya, a respected filmmaker played by Samuthirakani. Their relationship begins to crack when Mahadevan tries to take control of a film that was originally written as a female-led story called Shaantha. He renames it Kaantha to suit his own goals.
Things take a dark turn when a crime on the film set pulls everyone into a tense mystery. The story mixes ego clashes, emotional moments, and a gripping investigation.
The film stars Dulquer in a powerful role, Bhagyashri Borse in her Tamil debut, Rana Daggubati as the investigating officer, and Samuthirakani as the veteran director. The team also includes strong technical talent like cinematographer Dani Sanchez-Lopez and composers Jhanu Chanthar and Jakes Bejoy.
Kaantha is produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films and Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. The film was made on a budget of Rs 35–40 crore. It was released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi to reach a wide audience across India.
