Pournami

Pournami

Year: 2006

Runtime: 167 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Prabhu Deva

RomanceMusicDramaAction

A dedicated dancer spends months preparing for a prestigious ceremony in which she must present a sacred dance at Lord Shiva’s temple. When she mysteriously vanishes before the event, her younger sister Chandrakala takes up the mantle, committing herself to master the ritual dance and preserve the family’s devotion.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Pournami (2006)

Trace every key event in Pournami (2006) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Subramanyam begins training Pournami in Kuchipudi

In 1953, in a remote village of Andhra Pradesh, Subramanyam begins teaching Kuchipudi to his daughter Pournami as part of the family tradition. He passes on the dance as a living memory of their lineage. This early training plants the seeds for the village's rain-temple ritual that will shape generations.

1953 Remote village, Andhra Pradesh
2

Legend of the rain-dance woman (1507)

The elder recounts the legend of a woman in 1507 who danced in the temple for seven days and nights to plead for rain. Her sacrifice pleases Lord Siva and brings rain, ending the drought. Since then, the ritual recurs every twelve years with a girl from her line performing.

1507 Temple
3

Pournami's mother performs the ritual

In 1951, the woman's mother performed the ritual, continuing the family duty at the temple. The dance remains a bridge between the temple, the rain, and the lineage's fate. The cycle preserves the belief that rain follows the sacred performance.

1951 Temple
4

Approaching next cycle and expectation

As the next cycle approaches in 1963, the village prepares for the temple ritual once again. Pournami is expected to be the dancer, keeping the lineage alive.

1963 Temple, village
5

Pournami disappears on the eve of the festival

In 1963, just before the festival, Pournami vanishes under mysterious circumstances. The villagers quickly conclude that she has eloped with someone, leaving the temple's rite in suspense.

1963 Village
6

Attention shifts to Chandrakala

Attention shifts to Chandrakala, but Subramanyam refuses to teach her the dance, fearing the zamindar Veerabhadra's predatory interest. The family struggle over tradition grows more fraught as time runs out.

1963 Home
7

Kesava arrives as a dance instructor

Their stepmother rents out the penthouse and courtyard to Siva Kesava, a western-style dance instructor. Kesava's arrival introduces a new mentor and a different approach to training.

1963 Penthouse and courtyard
8

Pournami's fate and protection promises

Pournami has not eloped; Subramanyam explains that he sent her away to protect her from Veerabhadra's advances. Kesava promises to shield Chandrakala from danger while she learns the dance.

1963 Village/Home
9

Kesava's past and Pournami's sacrifice

Kesava reveals his past: he had married Pournami, who sacrificed herself to save his life. Before dying, she made Kesava promise that Chandrakala would perform the temple dance.

Pre-1963 Backstory
10

Chandrakala begins training

Chandrakala, learning of her sister's fate, begins training under Kesava, receiving her father's blessing after a difficult, protective search for safety. Her progress ties the family's future to the temple's ritual.

1963 Training space/Temple
11

Chandrakala's ritual performance and rain

Chandrakala becomes a skilled dancer and, during the festival, performs the ritual dance in the temple. Her performance coincides with rain returning to the village, validating the tradition.

1963 Temple
12

Veerabhadra's interference and Mallika

Veerabhadra's interference creates additional obstacles, and Kesava faces tension with his former fiancée Mallika, complicating the couple's path. Yet the festival's outcome remains tied to Chandrakala's art.

1963 Village
13

Kesava and Chandrakala become engaged

Kesava and Chandrakala become engaged, binding their families and securing the ritual's future. Their union marks a new chapter for the dance and the village's faith.

1963 Village
14

A daughter named Pournami grows up

Years later, the couple has a daughter named Pournami who does not want to learn the family dance. The cycle of tradition is threatened by her reluctance, echoing old doubts about carrying on the legacy.

Years later Home
15

Kesava narrates the tradition to his daughter

At the film's close, Kesava narrates the tradition to his daughter inside the temple, preserving the story for the next generation. The temple remains the shared stage where rain, ritual, and lineage converge.

Present Temple

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:04

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