Murari

In the 19th century, a greedy alcoholic [Jamindar] sets out to steal a sacred panchaloha idol of the goddess Durga from a temple during the ominous Amavasya night, hoping to settle his debts with the British. His plan ends in tragedy when he is killed alongside the British, and the goddess curses his family, sealing a cruel fate: the male heirs in the lineage would die every forty-eight years.

Jumping to 2001, Murari — the youngest scion of that cursed line — faces the next thread of fate. His mother has passed away, and his paternal grandmother Sabari fears for his safety. Murari is cherished by his father Satthipandu, by Sabari, by his elder brothers Seenayya and Baachi, and by Soori, along with their wives and children. Murari shares a special bond with his eldest sister-in-law, Gopi, whom he respects and admires deeply.

The family is estranged from Gopi’s maternal relatives, led by her uncle and foster father [Chanti], due to conflicts sparked by Chanti’s alcoholic son Rambabu during Gopi’s wedding. This rift means Gopi can visit her family only alone, while the rest of the clan avoids contact. Vasundhara — known as “Vasu” — arrives in the city as an agricultural student, and Murari finds himself drawn to her presence. He also believes, at least for a time, that Gopi has chosen not to have children to safeguard their bond.

To bring happiness to Gopi, Murari accompanies [Vasundhara] to her village, where he flirts with her and gradually falls in love. After a confrontation with Rambabu, Murari returns home while Gopi stays behind to finish some rituals. Meanwhile, the family’s priest senses that Murari is the next target of the curse, but he keeps this knowledge from [Sabari]. Vasu eventually leaves for Hyderabad, leaving Murari behind. At the insistence of Sathipandu, who understands Murari’s feelings for Vasu, Murari follows her to Hyderabad, confesses his love, and discovers that Vasu, unaware of the planned orchestration, agrees to stay with Murari’s family under the pretext of conducting research as part of Sathipandu’s plan. Over time, Murari slowly wins the family over and gains their acceptance of his relationship with Vasu.

When Murari asks [Sabari] to bless his marriage to Vasu, Sabari initially appears to consent, but the family priest reveals the truth of the curse and warns that Murari will die and Vasu would be widowed young. Fearful of the prophecy, Sabari objects, though not revealing the underlying reason. Misreading Sabari’s late change of heart as a revenge for the family feud, Rambabu swiftly arranges for Vasu to wed Bullabbayi, a greedy suitor who stands to gain from the union. In the meantime, Sabari has Murari perform several rituals to counter the curse, and Chanti arrives at the temple to announce Vasu’s impending marriage.

Determined to rescue Vasu, Murari sets out, but Sabari tries to stop him, and the family accuses her of using Vasu to settle old scores. The priest then reveals the truth about the curse and Sabari’s protective measures for Murari, prompting the family to back Murari’s crusade to save Vasu. Murari embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her, and Vasu escapes with help from her mother and other women. As Murari closes in on Bullabayi, he is stabbed, yet he presses on with Vasu slung over his shoulder toward the temple to complete the Abhishekam ritual.

Soori arranges medical help for Murari after the injury, without alerting the rest of the family. Rambabu later attacks Murari, and in the struggle the Durga idol undergoes Rakthabhishekam—a ritual red offering—while Murari carries the idol. Vasu regains consciousness and informs [Gopi] that Murari was stabbed. Murari completes the ritual and faints, his condition worsening.

In a final, selfless act to save him, Sabari sacrifices herself by drowning in the river, a gesture that appeases the goddess. With the curse lifted, Murari begins to recover. In the end, Murari and Vasu marry, seeking the blessings of the goddess and honoring Sabari’s portrait as a sign of forgiveness and renewed family ties.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:24