Madhagaja

Madhagaja

Year: 2021

Runtime: 132 mins

Language: Kannada

Director: S. Mahesh Kumar

Echo Score: 36

Budget: $600M

CrimeActionThriller

Two powerful lords are engaged in a bitter conflict over scarce water resources, leading to widespread bloodshed. To protect her son from the violence, one lord’s wife sends him away. However, he unexpectedly returns to the very battlefield his mother tried to shield him from, causing her considerable worry and frustration.

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Timeline & Setting – Madhagaja (2021)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Madhagaja (2021). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Set in contemporary India, the narrative contrasts urban Varanasi with a traditional rural village. The events unfold against modern-day socio-economic dynamics and local vendettas. The time frame reflects present-day realities rather than a historical period.

Location

Varanasi, Shivagaada, Manikarnika Ghat

Varanasi is a historic city along the Ganges, famed for its ghats and crowded markets. The film opens near Manikarnika Ghat, hinting at a darker economy surrounding the dead. The story then shifts to Shivagaada, a Karnataka village where power is held by landlords Bhairava Dorai and Rathnamma. Here, river water and land disputes drive daily life and conflict.

🏙️ Varanasi 🏞️ Rural Karnataka village 🗺️ River and land disputes

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:04

Main Characters – Madhagaja (2021)

Meet the key characters of Madhagaja (2021), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Surya Madhagaja (Sriimurali)

An orphan turned real estate agent who navigates a world of power and danger. He initially seeks control over the area and profits from the dark side of the market around Manikarnika Ghat, but is drawn into the village conflict of Shivagaada. He discovers his true lineage later and must decide where his loyalties lie, balancing self-interest with protective duty.

🧭 Orphan 🗺️ Ambitious 🛡️ Protector

Bhairava Dorai (Jagapati Babu)

A stern village landlord who commands influence and commands respect through strength and intimidation. He rules Shivagaada with his partner Rathnamma and views Surya's presence as a threat to his family’s authority. His actions catalyze the conflict but also anchor the community’s sense of order and protection.

🏛️ Powerful 🗡️ Protective 🧱 Patriarch

Rathnamma (Devayani)

A wary matriarch who secretly harbors a tense past with Surya and fears discovery. She uses resources to influence outcomes in Shivagaada and protect her family, while also wrestling with loyalties to Bhairava and her hidden connection to Surya.

👩‍👧‍👦 Complex matriarch 🤑 Calculating 🔐 Secretive

Basavanna (Rangayana Raghu)

A father figure who raised Surya away from his bloodline. He urges Surya to keep his origins secret to shield him from danger and to safeguard the family from rivalling bloodlines.

👨‍👦 Father figure 🛡️ Guardian 🌀 Secret-keeper

Tandava (Ramachandra Raju)

Veerabhadra’s released son who seeks to avenge perceived humiliations. He escalates violence, kidnaps Basavanna and family, and reveals Surya's origin to spark a final showdown.

⚔️ Antagonist 🗡️ Rival 🕵️ Deceiver

Veerabhadra (Shivaraj KR Pate)

A powerful rival landlord whose actions fuel the water feud. He partners with Tandava to topple Bhairava's authority, showing how conflict over water becomes a tool of domination.

🏞️ Rival 💧 Water feud ⚔️ Aggressor

Pallavi (Ashika Ranganath)

Bhairava’s friend’s daughter who loves Surya. Her relationship becomes a pawn in the larger political plot, illustrating how affection can be manipulated to influence power dynamics.

💖 Love interest 🧭 Caught in schemes 🎭 Moral dilemma

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:04

Major Themes – Madhagaja (2021)

Explore the central themes of Madhagaja (2021), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Identity

Surya's true parentage and his hidden lineage drive loyalties and choices. The revelation reframes his sense of belonging and duty. The film uses bloodlines to explore how heritage shapes power within Shivagaada. Personal identity collides with family secrets as the plot unfolds.

🏛️ Power

Land ownership and governance govern life in Shivagaada, with Bhairava and Rathnamma's wealth and authority clashing with Surya's ambitions. The water feud between Bhairava and Veerabhadra exposes how resources are wielded as control. The story shows how authority can both corrupt and protect. The resolution restores balance by controlling river flow and influence.

🛡️ Justice

Surya steps into a protective role, defending his new family and the village from violence. The clash with Tandava and Veerabhadra tests his commitment to justice over revenge. The narrative emphasizes protection, loyalty, and the cost of maintaining peace. In the end, justice arrives as Surya outmaneuvers the conspirators and restores order.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:04

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