Mahakavi Kshetrayya Story

The film is based on Kshetrayya, an ardent devotee of Krishna in the 17th century in the village of Muvva in present-day Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. The two bells from Siva’s anklets plunge on earth; the first forms a village, Muvva, and the second takes an avatar as Varadhayya. Though Varadhayya is born into a respectable scholar’s family, he is illiterate till his teenage years and moves as a meander, intoning melody. Varadha loves his maternal uncle Sivaiah’s daughter Rukmini. Besides, Bhama, a Devadasi, allures Varadha’s tunes and showers her love on him, and her brother Pichaiah is a bestie of Varadha. Due to circumstances, Varadha relinquishes Rukmini or Bhama. Then, a saint, Siddhendra Yogi, divulges that his life is dedicated to the Lord. At that juncture, Krishna appears to provide enlightenment and entrusts him to scripture his divinity as vocals and lyrics. Now, Varadha’s songs become chart-topping when religious authorities affirm nastiness and ostracize him. However, on the advice of Siddhendra Yogi, Varadha starts his journey to learn the life secret when he is as eminent as Kshetrayya. Eventually, Tanisha of Golconda honors him as his poet, which he denies courteously. So, infuriated, Tanisha seizes him, and he is freed by Bhama and Pichaiah.

Later, Kshetrayya tours Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, Srirangam, etc., and lands at Thanjavur. King Vijaya Raghava Nayaka felicitates him with great honor, defeats all the poets in the province, and proclaims Rangajamma, the second spouse of Vijaya Raghava, a great poet, as his analogous. During that time, Thanjavur has a rivalry with Madhurai when Kshetrayya tries to resolve their conflicts but fails and ensures the destruction of Thanjavur. In that plight, Rangajamma requests Kshetrayya to safeguard their heritage and hand over Prince Changamala Dasu. Now, Kshetrayya moves to Golkonda and solicits Tanisha to establish Changamala Dasu as the emperor of Thanjavur. In return, he starts working for him. The advent of Kshetrayya irks court poet Tulasi Murthy, who challenges him to write 1000 verses in 40 days. Kshetrayya accepts it, on the verge, when Tulasi Murthy allures dancer Taaramathi, who ploys by seducing him via syrup. Just in time, Bhama rescues him, spotting two. Siddhendra Yogi misconstrues and curses Bhama that females cannot participate in Kuchipudi. After coming into consciousness, Kshetrayya regrets his sin and is unfit to write the verses. When his aura is relieved, he seeks to endorse his duty, which successfully finishes the verses. Knowing it, Tulasi Murthy heists the verses, loses his eyesight as divine retribution, and bows his head down. At last, the Lord directs Kshetrayya to reach his native place, Muvva, as it is the time of his salvation. Finally, the movie ends with Kshetrayya transforming into a bell that conjoins with Siva’s anklets at Kailasam.