Kantara: Chapter 1 has spawned a range of political and ideological discussions. Critics hailed it as a "powerful message of inclusivity and rebellion against oppression." Social media users compared it to films like Dhanush's Karnan or Vikram's Thangalaan, noting it subtly critiques exploitation without explicitly naming castes. Others see it as "communist utopia," portraying landlords as villains in a Brahmin/upper-caste vs. SC/ST narrative.
Then there is a critique of the DMK variety. We Dravidians wrote, "The mega-budget devotional film Kantara is nothing but a grand attempt to absorb and erase the Dravidian Adivasis’ deities by merging them into the so-called mainstream Hindu gods. A cultural takeover disguised as cinema!" This view has received considerable pushback. Amrit Shenava wrote, "I am a Tuluva from Tulunadu and we worship the deities shown in Kantara. While it is true that Daiva worship is not a part of the vedic worship, it is an essential and integral part of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana Dharma is broad and has a plethora of worships." Rahul Ekbote argued, "The term Dravidian is in itself the cultural misappropriation and divisive tool. Dravidian is a regional identity not a civilisational (Sanatan). The Periyarists can go screw themselves."
A review called Kantara: Chapter 1 a "critique of consumerism" with "nuance and subtlety."
