Avane Srimannarayana 2019

In the lawless western city of Amaravati, set in the 1980s of Karnataka, the ruthless bandit king RamaRama Madhusudhan Rao of the Abhira kingdom raids a theater troupe to seize a government treasure before it’s claimed by others. He spares and abducts the troupe’s bandmaster for his entertainment, only to discover that the troupe had already hidden the treasure. His hunt goes in circles until on his deathbed he passes the throne to his younger son Tukaram Pramod Shetty. His older son Jayarama Balaji Manohar grows jealous, kills his father, wounds Tukaram, and proclaims himself king. He vows not to sit on the throne until the rightful treasure is found, but the search remains fruitless for fifteen years.

The story widens with journalist Lakshmi Shanvi Shrivastava and her cameraman Sudhakar, who report on Harishchandra Raaghu Raamanakoppa, a treasure hunter hired by Tukaram to locate the missing treasure. Harishchandra is kidnapped during the report, drawing the attention of a negligent inspector, Narayana Rakshit Shetty. Narayana’s missteps begin when he arrests four guards linked to Harishchandra, actions driven by Tukaram’s political resolve to wipe out his brother. Forced by circumstances, Narayana writes a bounty on his own head and is ordered to find Harishchandra, yet he secretly aims to manipulate the situation for his own gain. He tries to derail Lakshmi’s reporting by redirecting the bounty to steal a newspaper van, but when he locates Harishchandra in the van, he pretends to have rescued him for publicity.

Jayarama catches wind of Narayana’s deception and captures him, only to hear the truth from Narayana and spare his life on one condition: locate the treasure. In a twist, Narayana learns from members of the troupe that they are a religious group who believe in the prophecy of Sri Hari, a savior whose emblem is an eagle that will land on the chosen one’s hand. Narayana and his deputy Achyuthanna Achyuth Kumar infiltrate the troupe’s festival, and when an eagle lands on Narayana’s arm, the troupe declares him Sri Hari, a revelation that Lakshmi warns could bring dangerous consequences.

Lakshmi confronts Narayana, cautioning him against embracing the prophecy. She realizes there is division within the troupe: a faction that does not believe in Sri Hari. She traps Narayana and reveals her alignment with the dissenters, while Sudhakar’s loyalty is questioned. Narayana escapes, and with the help of believers, learns that a map to the treasure exists even if the exact location remains hidden. He returns to the Abhira fort and executes a clever plan to frame guard Narsi for pocketing Tukaram’s ring—a ring Narayana himself had taken earlier. He also bribes two guards to present Narsi as the thief, which leads Jayarama to imprison Narsi. This ruse is meant to rattle the troupe and push the bandmaster toward action, but the plan only partially succeeds. The bribed guards help Narayana escape, and a tense standoff between the brothers unfolds, culminating in Tukaram seizing the fort after outgunning Jayarama.

The troupe’s traditional play then reveals a clue to the treasure’s location, pointing to a secluded mountain forest. Narayana returns to Lakshmi and convinces her to join the mission, while some of Tukaram’s men push forward and others abduct the troupe and set the fort ablaze. Jayarama breaks free from custody, eliminates Tukaram’s forces, and ties Tukaram to a cross. Narayana uncovers a decoy chest filled with rocks and is buried alive by Tukaram’s men, only to be saved by Achyuthana and other police. Recovering, Narayana deduces the real chest’s location and retrieves it, taking it to Jayarama and arranging snipers around the fort for a final confrontation.

In a dramatic showdown, Narayana presents the treasure to secure the troupe’s lives. He signals his men to burn the fort, causing Jayarama’s loyalties to unravel and his forces to flee. Jayarama fights with fury but is ultimately overpowered as the fortress burns around them. Narayana’s bravery earns him praise, and he and Lakshmi begin a new life together as husband and wife. In the credits, Harishchandra is seen meeting Narayana’s long-lost father, bringing the tale to a close with a hint of reunion and closure.