Kaviratna Kalidasa

The king ridicules the chief minister's demand to marry off his son to the king's daughter, Princess Vidyadhare. Frustrated by the insult, the minister is ordered to search for a groom who is worthy of Vidyadhare. He resolves to find a foolish match to embarrass the royal family and humiliate the king. This vow sets the minister on a dangerous path.

Kalidasa is introduced as a humble shepherd tending his sheep. The minister flatters him and persuades him to accompany him to the palace as a potential groom for Vidyadhare. Kalidasa travels from his village toward the capital under the minister's guidance. The journey marks the start of a plot that will change his life.

At the palace, Kalidasa faces a series of tests arranged by Vidyadhare and the minister. Through coaching, he performs brilliantly and earns the princess's attention. The minister even teaches him a key sentence to use if he cannot answer a question: heluvudakku, keluvudakku, idu samayavalla. The tests reveal Kalidasa's hidden wit beneath his simple exterior.

Vidyadhare is beguiled by Kalidasa's apparent brilliance and agrees to marry him. On the wedding night, the truth about Kalidasa's origins surfaces, shaking the couple's world. In a desperate moment, Vidyadhare locks him in the palace temple and seeks the goddess Kali for vidyaabuddhi, a transformative gift of wisdom. The revelation sets off a journey of enlightenment.

In a mystic vision, Goddess Kali appears as Vidyadhare pleads for guidance. Kalidasa is blessed with vidyabuddhi, the spark of true knowledge and wisdom. He then composes the Shyamala Dandakam in praise of the goddess, marking a profound turn in his art. Vidyadhare witnesses a miraculous transformation.

Kalidasa steps away from the temple and walks into a broader life, leaving his former ignorance behind. Vidyadhare regains consciousness and sets out to find her husband, determined to reconcile their paths. The couple's fortunes begin to diverge from their initial schemes as Kalidasa's genius blossoms.

Kalidasa becomes a renowned poet in King Bhoja's court, earning a place among the ashtadiggajas. His brilliance irks the elder poet Musuri Krishnamurthy, who resents the newcomer's ascent. Bhoja asks Kalidasa to write a funeral song for him, but Kalidasa refuses to craft a song that could hasten the king's death. The court dynamic grows tense as Kalidasa's fame rises.

Vidyadhare takes the name Kaladhare and hides at Ratnakala's home, a prostitute, to stay near Kalidasa. Kalidasa remains unaware of his former life yet is drawn to Kaladhare. He pens his acclaimed Abhignaana Shaakuntala, weaving a romantic thread tied to Vidyadhare's true identity.

Bhoja cannot bear Kalidasa's closeness to a woman of questionable standing and resents the poet's influence. The tension drives Kalidasa to part ways with Bhoja's court. The bond between mentor and friend frays as ambition and jealousy take center stage.

Dimdima kavi issues a cunning shloka that the ashtadiggajas must finish. Unable to answer, Ratnakala claims the prize for herself by answering a riddle about a lotus. The line 'Eye lotuses in the face lotus of my lady' exposes the deceit when pressed for truth. The court grows suspicious of Ratnakala's ambitions.

Ratnakala deprives Kalidasa of life with poison and moves to claim half of Bhoja's kingdom in the royal court. The palace reels from the sudden tragedy as the truth behind Kaladhare's life remains shrouded. Kalidasa's death marks a dramatic turning point in the saga.

Bhoja learns from Vidyadhare that Kalidasa was indeed her husband, not a mere stranger. He hurries to Kalaadhare's house to confront the tragedy and vows to bring Kalidasa back to life. The king hides as he plans a path to restore his friend and ally.

Bhoja engineers a revival through a staged cue that Kalidasa must sing the charama geethe to prove his life. Kalidasa awakens, sings with all his heart, and the performance seals Bhoja's fate. The act of the song brings a grim twist as Bhoja dies at its conclusion.

Moved by the love between Kalidasa and Bhoja, Kalidasa prays to Goddess Kali for mercy and blessing. The goddess answers with a blessing that grants long life to both Kalidasa and Bhoja. The divine intervention reframes the mortal tragedy into a tale of enduring fate and wisdom.

With fate restored and their bond proven, Kalidasa is reunited with Vidyadhare. The film closes on a hopeful note, with the transformed poet and his beloved stepping into a future enriched by wisdom and love. Their reunion marks the culmination of a journey from ignorance to enlightenment.