Amarasilpi Jakkanna Story

The film is about the life of the iconic sculptor Jakanachari, widely known as Amarasilpi, who promulgated Indian sculpture art across the land. Jakkanna’s father, Mallanna, was a blind yet brilliant sculptor, and artistry ran deep in their lineage. Once, Jakkanna encounters a gifted dancer, Manjari, whose grace inspires him to carve her postures into stone. The two fall in love. Gopadeva, the spiteful ruler of the region, notices her beauty and plots to possess her with the help of her greedy mother, Rajamma. However, Manjari elopes and marries Jakkanna with the aid of her cousins Sundaram and Gangu. Initially, Mallanna disapproves of the marriage but later accepts it after recognizing Manjari’s virtue. She soon conceives. Enraged, Gopadeva invites Jakkanna to take on an artistic commission. Unable to work without Manjari, Jakkanna insists on her presence, and together they create magnificent idols. Determined to separate them, Gopadeva fakes Rajamma’s death and forces Manjari to dance under threat to her husband’s life. Heartbroken, Jakkanna abandons everything. While fleeing, Manjari attempts suicide but is saved by tribal folk, who shelter her when she gives birth to a son, Dankkanna.

Time passes, and Jakkanna, now a wanderer, meets Ramanujacharya, who introduces him to Vishnuvardhana, emperor of the Hoysalas. Jakkanna is devastated upon realizing through Acharya that Manjari remained pure. Vishnuvardhana commissions the grand Chennakeshava Temple at Belur, entrusting its construction to Jakkanna. Meanwhile, Manjari sets out in search of her husband, leaving Dankkanna with Sundaram and Gangu, who in turn hand him to Mallanna. Unaware of his true lineage, Mallanna adopts him and trains him into a master sculptor. On her journey, Manjari faints and is rescued by Queen Shantala Devi, who shelters her until the temple is complete, as instructed by Acharya. Years roll by, and Dankkanna matures into a fine artisan. As the temple nears completion, Acharya reunites Jakkanna and Manjari. Granting Vishnuvardhana and Shantala Devi’s wish, Jakkanna sculpts the main deity himself. Just before inauguration, Dankkanna arrives, declaring the idol defective. His claim is proven when a frog emerges from the stone. Shocked, Jakkanna collapses and amputates his hand in despair. At that moment, Mallanna arrives with Sundaram and Gangu to reveal Dankkanna’s true parentage. Proud of his remarkable son, Jakkanna vows to re-sculpt the idol. With immense effort and devotion, he triumphs, and finally, the Lord blesses him by restoring his hand on the eve of the temple’s inauguration.