Gajakessari

In the dense Aanegudde forest, Rana uses raw power to coerce the state minister into signing a deal to open a resort. The minister relents only after witnessing his bodyguard fall to Rana’s merciless claim. The brutal display reveals the lengths Rana will go to seize land and dominate the people. The incident establishes a grim tone for the struggle ahead.

The story shifts to Mysore, where the Shankara Narayana temple stands as a symbol of piety and apolitical reverence. Krishna is introduced as a cheerful, down-to-earth loan-financier who remains deeply devoted to his family and the Muth. The temple's sanctity and the possibility that Krishna might become Pontiff set the drama on its path.

The pontiff lays down a condition: Krishna must donate an elephant to the Muth if he cannot accept spiritual leadership. Krishna resists renouncing worldly life, offering light evasions. The Muth and its followers shield him with respect, complicating his decision.

Krishna decides to go into the forest to locate the required elephant. Rangayana Raghu, the capable forest officer, guides him to the indigenous tribes guarding the elephants. This quest marks the first step in Krishna's transformation from city youth to forest guardian.

In the forest, Krishna befriends Amulya, a young ecologist, and forms a bond with the mighty elephant Kalinga. Kalinga's towering presence unsettles the local tribes, who guard the elephants with wary respect. Their growing alliance foreshadows Krishna's future role as protector of the forest and its people.

Rana hatches a plan to push tribal communities off their ancestral lands to make way for the resort. Krishna and Amulya join the villagers' resistance, aligning with their quest to defend ancestral lands. The conflict escalates as developers press their claim and the tribes fight for their homes.

When Rana's henchmen advance, Kalinga comes to Krishna's aid, standing between the invaders and the people. Krishna's resolve hardens as he rides the elephant's power into the clash. The forest becomes a theatre of defiance against Rana's greed.

A tribal chief recounts the legend of Baahubali, a warrior who defended Karunadu. Baahubali defeats Verma's army but pays a personal price, losing his beloved elephant Balarama to poison. For valor and sacrifice, the king names Baahubali Gajakesari posthumously.

The chief's tale hints that Krishna may be the reincarnation of Baahubali destined to protect the forest again. The story uses this legacy to elevate Krishna's mission beyond personal gain. Krishna's sense of purpose deepens as myth and present-day conflict intertwine.

Krishna confronts Rana and his men, risking his life in the confrontation. The Muth's pontiff senses the danger and performs a solemn Mrityunjaya Homa at the temple. The ritual strengthens Krishna, preparing him for the battles to come.

Empowered by the rite and the elephant's presence, Krishna defeats Rana and his henchmen. The tide turns in favor of the tribal villagers, who regain hope and control of their lands. Kalinga's ferocity and Krishna's resolve symbolize a new guardianship over Karunadu.

The pontiff arrives and clarifies Krishna's true duty: to safeguard the tribes rather than seize the throne. Krishna is blessed to marry Meera (Amulya) and to lead a peaceful, fruitful life. The blessing seals his path as protector of the forest and its people.