Kaviratna Kalidasa
Encyclopedia
Released in 1983, Kaviratna Kalidasa is one of the all-time top money-grossing film
s in the history of Kannada Movies. Dr Rajkumar, a prominent actor in the Kannada film industry starred in the film, portraying the role of Kalidasa
, along with Jaya Pradha in the role of Vidyadhare and Srinivasa Murthy
as Raja Bhoja. The movie was produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar under the "Vajreshwari Combines" banner.
Kalidasa, a humble shepherd, is shown rearing his sheep. Convinced of his stupidity, Minister charms Kalidasa to accompany him to the palace, so that Kalidasa can marry the princess.
Coached by the minister, Kalidasa excels in the tests conducted by Vidyadhare (Jaya Pradha). The minister is shrewd enough to teach a key sentence to Kalidasa. If he can't answer a question, Kalidasa must utter "heluvudakkU, kEluvudakku, idu samayavalla", meaning This isn't the right time to question or answer.
Vidyadhare is fooled by Kalidasa's brilliance and marries him. However, the truth comes out during the first night.
Shattered, Vidyadhare locks Kalidasa in the palace temple and gets him to demand "vidyaabuddhi" [Knowledge and Wisdom] from the goddess Kali.
In a mystical scene, Vidyadhare loses consciousness, while Kalidasa is blessed with vidyaabuddhi. Kalidasa is shown walking away from the palace-temple, implying his casting off his earlier ignorance and walking away from his previous life. Eventually, Vidyadhare regains consciousness and goes in search of her husband.
Kalidasa, now a renowned poet, is one of the ashtadiggajas [8 Great poets including dandi
] in the court of King Bhoja (Srinivasa Murthy
), much to the ire of the elder poet Musuri Krishnamurthy.
Bhoja pleads with his dear friend Kalidasa to write a charama geethe (burial song) for him, which Kalidasa refuses, since Bhoja is sure to die once he hears the song.
Vidyadhare rests at a prostitute Kalaadhare's home and catches Kalidasa's attention. Vidyadhare is pleased to see her husband, but Kalidasa is unaware of his former life.
Kalidasa composes his best work abhignan shakuntala with romantic interests on vidyadhare.
Bhoja can't bear the fact that his aptamitra (intimate friend) Kalidasa is in the company of a prostitute. The differences lead to Kalidasa parting ways with Bhoja and walking out of his court.
Dimdima kavi, who is blessed with a didima from the goddess Saraswati, throws a literary challenge to Bhoja's ashtadiggajas, asking them to complete his shloka with the answer. Bhoja recalls his friend, when none can answer the question, kamale kamlotpattitih [Lotus within a Lotus].
Shamed Bhoja announces that he will donate half of his kingdom to anyone who solves the puzzle. Kalaadhare gets the answer from Kalidasa and poisons him.
She walks into royal court, to claim half kingdom.
She answers "Eye lotuses in the face lotus of my lady."
Dimdima kavi, who could silence herds of lauretes with his dimdima, catches her fault, asking when she herself is a lady, how can she say "milady." He announces that other than Kalidasa no one can answer this puzzle.
Bhoja rushes the guards to Kalaadhare's house, only to find the dead body of Kalidasa. Bhoja also learns the truth from Vidyadhare: that Kalidasa was her husband.
Bhoja pledges to Vidyadhare that he'll get her husband back to her and prays to the goddess Kali to donate his half life to Kalidasa.
When Kalidasa awakes to life, Bhoja hides himself and tricks him to sing "charama geethe." Bhoja dies once his friend has completed the song.
The onus is now on Kalidasa to get his friend back to life; the only way is the divine intervention. He prays his heart out to the goddess Kali, who is touched by the love and affection Kalidasa and Bhoja bestow on each other. The goddess blesses both Kalidasa and Bhoja with long lives.
The movie ends with Kalidasa reuniting with Vidyadhare.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s in the history of Kannada Movies. Dr Rajkumar, a prominent actor in the Kannada film industry starred in the film, portraying the role of Kalidasa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
, along with Jaya Pradha in the role of Vidyadhare and Srinivasa Murthy
Srinivasa Murthy
Srinivasa Murthy is one of the finest actors in the Kannada film industry who has earned a stature as the most dependable artist. Known for his graceful acting, Srinivasa Murthy is a disciplined actor who has carved out a niche in historical and emotional roles. He has shown variety in his acting...
as Raja Bhoja. The movie was produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar under the "Vajreshwari Combines" banner.
Plot summary
The kingdom's chief minister wants his son to marry to the king's daughter, Princess Vidyadhare. When he expresses his wish to the king, he is ridiculed. Instead, the king orders him to search for a "sakala vidya paarangatha" groom for his daughter. Vowing to take revenge against the insult, the minister goes in search of a foolish groom.Kalidasa, a humble shepherd, is shown rearing his sheep. Convinced of his stupidity, Minister charms Kalidasa to accompany him to the palace, so that Kalidasa can marry the princess.
Coached by the minister, Kalidasa excels in the tests conducted by Vidyadhare (Jaya Pradha). The minister is shrewd enough to teach a key sentence to Kalidasa. If he can't answer a question, Kalidasa must utter "heluvudakkU, kEluvudakku, idu samayavalla", meaning This isn't the right time to question or answer.
Vidyadhare is fooled by Kalidasa's brilliance and marries him. However, the truth comes out during the first night.
Shattered, Vidyadhare locks Kalidasa in the palace temple and gets him to demand "vidyaabuddhi" [Knowledge and Wisdom] from the goddess Kali.
In a mystical scene, Vidyadhare loses consciousness, while Kalidasa is blessed with vidyaabuddhi. Kalidasa is shown walking away from the palace-temple, implying his casting off his earlier ignorance and walking away from his previous life. Eventually, Vidyadhare regains consciousness and goes in search of her husband.
Kalidasa, now a renowned poet, is one of the ashtadiggajas [8 Great poets including dandi
Dandi
Dandi may refer to:places*Dandi, Gujarat, a village, scene of Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha*Dandi, Iran, a city in Zanjan Province*Dandi, Nigeria, a Local Government Area in Kebbi Stateother uses* Dandi Entertainment, a company...
] in the court of King Bhoja (Srinivasa Murthy
Srinivasa Murthy
Srinivasa Murthy is one of the finest actors in the Kannada film industry who has earned a stature as the most dependable artist. Known for his graceful acting, Srinivasa Murthy is a disciplined actor who has carved out a niche in historical and emotional roles. He has shown variety in his acting...
), much to the ire of the elder poet Musuri Krishnamurthy.
Bhoja pleads with his dear friend Kalidasa to write a charama geethe (burial song) for him, which Kalidasa refuses, since Bhoja is sure to die once he hears the song.
Vidyadhare rests at a prostitute Kalaadhare's home and catches Kalidasa's attention. Vidyadhare is pleased to see her husband, but Kalidasa is unaware of his former life.
Kalidasa composes his best work abhignan shakuntala with romantic interests on vidyadhare.
Bhoja can't bear the fact that his aptamitra (intimate friend) Kalidasa is in the company of a prostitute. The differences lead to Kalidasa parting ways with Bhoja and walking out of his court.
Dimdima kavi, who is blessed with a didima from the goddess Saraswati, throws a literary challenge to Bhoja's ashtadiggajas, asking them to complete his shloka with the answer. Bhoja recalls his friend, when none can answer the question, kamale kamlotpattitih [Lotus within a Lotus].
Shamed Bhoja announces that he will donate half of his kingdom to anyone who solves the puzzle. Kalaadhare gets the answer from Kalidasa and poisons him.
She walks into royal court, to claim half kingdom.
She answers "Eye lotuses in the face lotus of my lady."
Dimdima kavi, who could silence herds of lauretes with his dimdima, catches her fault, asking when she herself is a lady, how can she say "milady." He announces that other than Kalidasa no one can answer this puzzle.
Bhoja rushes the guards to Kalaadhare's house, only to find the dead body of Kalidasa. Bhoja also learns the truth from Vidyadhare: that Kalidasa was her husband.
Bhoja pledges to Vidyadhare that he'll get her husband back to her and prays to the goddess Kali to donate his half life to Kalidasa.
When Kalidasa awakes to life, Bhoja hides himself and tricks him to sing "charama geethe." Bhoja dies once his friend has completed the song.
The onus is now on Kalidasa to get his friend back to life; the only way is the divine intervention. He prays his heart out to the goddess Kali, who is touched by the love and affection Kalidasa and Bhoja bestow on each other. The goddess blesses both Kalidasa and Bhoja with long lives.
The movie ends with Kalidasa reuniting with Vidyadhare.