Balaraju Story

Yaksha and Mohini blossom their love, but [[Indra]] grows angry since he lusts for Mohini. He assigns his emissary [[Kubera]], who curses Yaksha to be born as a human with no idea of love and drags Mohini to Indra’s court, where she accuses him. Accordingly, she too is unfortunate to emerge on earth and pine for her lover. Yaksha is reborn as Balaraju, while Mohini is unearthed in a field by a peasant, Kammanaidu, who rears her as Sita, and her arrival makes him wealthy. When it is time for her marriage, Kammanaidu fears losing his fortune and cages her in a pillar on the outskirts. One day, Balaraju trespasses, and listening to his flute, Sita is enthralled and rushes toward him. Balaraju, tense and ignorant of love, runs away, wandering the forest, but Sita follows him persistently. At one point, hungry Balaraju mortgages Sita for a meal from a Shetty, but she escapes and continues chasing him. Slowly, transformation occurs in Balaraju, and he begins to endear Sita. One night, while sleeping, bandits abduct Sita. The next day, agitated Balaraju sets out in search, but when a sage refuses to answer him, he rebels and is cursed to become a snake. Meanwhile, Sita cleverly flees the burglars and, upon learning of Balaraju’s state, vows to save him, which she accomplishes through a pilgrimage.

On their way back, they halt, and Balaraju visits a grocery where he encounters Shetty, who charges him as a thief. Tragically, Balaraju dies in the clash. Shetty then lures Sita in Balaraju’s name and tries to molest her, but she escapes. Soon, she collapses upon seeing Balaraju’s corpse, when Shetty incriminates them both. To prove her innocence, Sita undergoes a fire test, during which the [[Ashvins]] appear and bless her with a divine garland: when touched, it revives the dead, but if discarded, it ensures death. She revives Balaraju, but Indra, envious, abducts Sita in disguise. When the real Sita returns, Balaraju is confused. Upset, Sita discards the garland, and it falls on Balaraju, killing him again. Furious, Sita curses Indra, and all the deities appear. [[Siva]] restores Balaraju to life, while Indra is relieved of his curse. At last, Indra invites them to return to heaven, but they refuse, choosing to live in the land of love. Finally, the movie ends happily with the couple’s union.