Udupi: The UVA Meridian hotel at Koteswara in Udupi district has taken on an unexpected new identity, transforming into a film set for major portions of Kantara and Kantara: Chapter 1. The location, which had remained largely undisclosed during filming, has now come into the spotlight after actor-director Rishab Shetty revealed that the story of Kantara was born at the very location.

Located on Halady Road in Koteswara, near Kundapura, UVA Meridian is a resort and convention property surrounded by extensive green spaces. Its official website describes the property as a luxury resort with accommodation, convention facilities and an amusement park.

The revelation has added another layer to the story of how the Kantara universe was developed and filmed along the coastal Karnataka region.

UVA Meridian became a secret shooting location

According to Vijay Karnataka, the hotel was converted into a large-scale film city for the shooting of both Kantara and Kantara: Chapter 1. A significant portion of the filming reportedly took place at the property, although details about the location had not been publicly disclosed earlier.

The transformation allowed the filmmakers to create different environments required for the films without revealing the production locations to audiences.

The property’s expansive setting also made it possible for the team to build and operate film sets within the premises. What was previously a hotel and resort environment consequently became part of the cinematic world associated with the Kantara franchise.

The revelation is particularly notable because the Kantara films have been closely associated with the landscape, culture and traditions of coastal Karnataka.

Rishab Shetty says Kantara’s story was born here

The biggest revelation surrounding UVA Meridian came from Rishab Shetty himself.

According to the Vijay Karnataka report, Shetty said the story of Kantara was born at the UVA Meridian film city. The location therefore served not merely as a shooting venue but also as an important creative space during the development of the film.

The connection is significant given the way Kantara draws from the cultural traditions and folklore of the coastal Karnataka region.

In an earlier interview with Vijay Karnataka, Shetty described Kantara as being rooted in folk stories, paddanas, Bhoota traditions and the beliefs of Tulunadu. He also said the story was connected to the region’s living traditions rather than being simply a conventional mythological narrative.

Kundapura became the base for Kantara Chapter 1

The role of the Udupi-Kundapura region in the production of Kantara: Chapter 1 was not limited to one hotel location.

Cinematographer Arvind S. Kashyap had earlier revealed that the production team moved to Kundapura and established offices for writing, direction and other departments during the making of the film.

The team spent considerable time on pre-production and location planning in the region. Kashyap said around 70–80% of the footage was shot on live locations, with the filmmakers choosing real environments wherever possible rather than relying entirely on visual effects.

This approach helped the production team capture the landscape and atmosphere of coastal Karnataka while also creating the visual world required for the prequel.

Film city added to coastal Karnataka’s film landscape

The conversion of UVA Meridian into a film city highlights the growing role of coastal Karnataka as a production location for large-scale films.

The region offers a combination of forests, agricultural landscapes, traditional settlements, coastal terrain and culturally distinctive locations. These characteristics have increasingly attracted filmmakers seeking natural settings rather than depending exclusively on constructed studio environments.

The Kantara franchise has particularly strong links to this region. Its stories and visual language are connected to the traditions and landscapes of Tulunadu and coastal Karnataka.

The use of an existing resort property as a controlled filming environment also gave the production team flexibility to construct and modify sets while maintaining logistical support for a large crew.

UVA Meridian is a major resort property

UVA Meridian is located at Halady Road, Koteswar, Kundapur, Udupi, Karnataka. According to the property’s official website, it offers hotel rooms and suites, restaurants, spa and wellness facilities, an amusement park and convention facilities.

The property also has a substantial convention space spread across multiple venues.

Its location near several coastal Karnataka tourist destinations has made it a hospitality destination in the Udupi-Kundapura region. The resort’s existing infrastructure and large surrounding spaces would have provided a suitable base for a production requiring multiple filming and support areas.

The property’s transformation for Kantara and Kantara: Chapter 1 therefore represents a temporary shift from hospitality infrastructure to a large-scale cinematic environment.

Kantara’s connection with local culture

The revelation about UVA Meridian also reflects the wider creative approach behind Kantara.

Rishab Shetty has previously spoken about wanting the story and characters to remain rooted in the land where the narrative is set. In his 2025 interview with Vijay Karnataka, he said the film was based on folk traditions, paddanas and Bhoota stories and described it as a story connected to the beliefs and traditions of Tulunadu.

The production also used local theatre artists for several roles, according to Shetty’s earlier comments. He said the filmmakers believed the characters needed to be portrayed by performers who suited the setting and cultural context of the story.

The choice of locations across Kundapura and the wider coastal region complemented this approach.

From a hotel to a hidden film set

For audiences familiar with the Kantara films, the latest revelation offers an opportunity to look at the production from another perspective.

The UVA Meridian property was not publicly known as one of the major shooting locations while filming was underway. Its transformation into a film city allowed the production team to work away from the attention that usually surrounds major movie sets.

Rishab Shetty’s disclosure has now brought the location into the public spotlight, particularly because of his statement that the Kantara story itself took shape there.

The revelation also adds to the growing list of real locations associated with the making of Kantara: Chapter 1, which used extensive live-location filming across the Kundapura region and other parts of coastal Karnataka.

Coastal Karnataka gets another film tourism connection

The newly revealed connection between UVA Meridian and the Kantara films could also create interest among cinema fans visiting the Udupi-Kundapura region.

Film locations associated with popular movies often become points of interest for audiences, particularly when the locations have a direct connection to the creation of the story.

In the case of UVA Meridian, the association goes beyond a conventional shooting location. According to Rishab Shetty’s account, the site was linked to the development of the Kantara story itself and later became a major production space.

The revelation has consequently placed the Koteswara property on the map of locations connected with one of Kannada cinema’s most widely recognised film franchises.