Indra 2002

In a village in Rayalaseema, two rival clans, led by Bharathasimha Reddy and Veera Siva Reddy, are locked in a long-running cycle of violence. A police inspector tries to broker peace by arranging a marriage between Bharathasimha Reddy’s brother, Vijayasimha Reddy, and Veera Siva Reddy’s sister. But tragedy strikes on their wedding night when Veera Siva Reddy’s sister poisons Vijayasimha Reddy, killing both of them. In the wake of this betrayal, Veera Siva Reddy and his men kill Bharathasimha Reddy, and Veera Siva Reddy is arrested and sentenced to fourteen years in prison.

With the male leaders gone, Bharathasimha Reddy’s son, Indrasena “Indra” Reddy, steps up to lead the clan, a moment marked by a symbolic scene where he takes a sword and sits on the throne, signaling his new authority to the clan and especially to his paternal grandmother.

Fast forward to 2002, Indra lives in Varanasi under the alias Shankar Narayana, working as a truthful and humble taxi driver. During a college singing competition at his niece’s school, Pallavi—the daughter of Uttar Pradesh governor Chenna Kesava Reddy—develops feelings for Shankar Narayana and even pretends to be an orphan to stay at his house. Chenna Kesava Reddy ultimately approaches Shankar but, recognizing him as Indrasena Reddy, asks him to marry Pallavi; Shankar declines, citing his responsibilities toward his niece Nandini.

Meanwhile, Giri, an orphan who has become Shankar’s trusted ally, confesses his love for Nandini, and Shankar arranges their wedding. The celebration is interrupted when Snehalatha Reddy reveals that Giri is actually Veera Manohar Reddy, the son of Veera Shankar Reddy and the elder son of Veera Shankar Reddy. She also declares that Shankar is Indrasena Reddy, shocking his adoptive family. Following a confrontation, Valmiki, Indra’s loyal adviser, recounts Indra’s past to illuminate the path ahead.

Indra, revered in the village for his dedication to the people, had warned Siva Reddy to stay away after his release, but Siva Reddy’s provocation led Indra to kill him. Snehalatha, Siva Reddy’s daughter, had once fallen for Indra, while Veera Shankar Reddy sought revenge. Indra saved Veera Shankar Reddy’s younger son from an accident, only for Veera Shankar Reddy to kill his own son to preserve his pride.

Confronting Veera Shankar Reddy, Indra allows the boy’s mother to mourn, bury him, and plant a Tulasi sapling over the grave to honor the boy’s soul. He warns Veera Shankar Reddy to protect the plant or face his wrath. Snehalatha then proposes to marry Indra as part of her share of land, and he accepts.

On their wedding day, Veera Shankar Reddy kills Indra’s sisters and their husbands, leaving Nandini an orphan along with her brother Pradeep. Enraged, Indra kills Veera Shankar Reddy’s three brothers and wounds him. Misled by her family, Snehalatha believes Indra was behind the violence and breaks off the engagement. Indra leaves the village for Varanasi to raise his niece and nephew.

Back in the present, Nandini contemplates suicide after discovering she’s pregnant with Manohar Reddy’s child. Indra returns to the village to a hero’s welcome and confronts Veera Shankar Reddy, insisting that Manohar Reddy marry Nandini. Snehalatha learns the truth about her brothers’ actions and tries to help, but is attacked. Indra intervenes to save her and chooses to end the cycle of vengeance without killing Veera Shankar Reddy. Manohar Reddy marries Nandini, while Indra remains steadfast in his duty to the people, rejecting marriage proposals from both Snehalatha and Pallavi. The story closes with the villagers rallying behind Indra, signaling a commitment to ending the violence in Rayalaseema.