Within the first 15 minutes of Kantara, Arvind S. Kashyap’s camera makes us feel the mystical energy of a kola performance, shows us the natural beauty of Tulu Nadu and practically puts the viewer in the driver’s seat during a kambala race. Kashyap worked with many limitations — it’s a small-budget film being shot in a village — but you’d never guess from the cinematography that they had any constraints. Spectacular 360-degree shots that defy both physics and the imagination, clever use of elements like fire, beautifully-composed frames — Kantara’s visuals were stunning and matched the tone and beats of its story.