Pedababu 2004

Pedababu, Jagapati Babu, is a revered arbiter in a quiet village, treated almost like a deity yet living in solitude away from his mother. He keeps a polite distance from Parvati, his mother who has remarried to Gangadharam, while Pedababu refuses to engage with her directly. Parvati and Gangadharam have two sons and a daughter named Geeta, who is in love with Bhaskar, the grandson of Pedababu’s devoted scribe, Raghavaiah, a man Pedababu holds in high regard. Geeta, Kaveri, is drawn to Bhaskar, and the romance becomes known to her brothers through Kanakaraju, the scheming figure who allies with Rudraraju to challenge Pedababu. The brothers confront Bhaskar when Pedababu seeks to broker a match, sparking a dispute over who possesses the authority to unite the lovers. Parvati asserts Pedababu as her elder son, but he refuses this claim, and Parvati collapses, setting off a wave of accusations that land squarely on Pedababu’s shoulders. Grief-stricken, he retreats from the world he once protected.

Five-and-twenty years earlier, the story of Sivaramaiah, Pedababu’s grandfather, unfolds with a similar reverence for moral order. Sivaramaiah marries Parvati to a cunning man, and together they bless Pedababu with life. When Pedababu’s father dies, Sivaramaiah’s health falters under the weight of the loss. Gangadharam is cast as a loyal servant whom Sivaramaiah uses to influence Parvati’s marriage, pushing her toward an arrangement she reluctantly accepts. A turning point comes when Sivaramaiah consults a wise saint, who foresees a grim fate: Pedababu could be the catalyst for his parents’ deaths, and the rift between mother and child would fracture the family. Disturbingly, Pedababu overhears this and resolves that his mother’s safety is more important than any honor, choosing to live apart to shield her.

Meanwhile, Chandu, the son of a morally corrupt MP, longs to possess Geeta. Through Kanakaraju, proposals of espousal are floated, and Pedababu’s step-brothers press their case. Pedababu vows to protect Geeta’s happiness and to safeguard the union by removing anyone who would stand in the way. The plan turns perilous when the MP and his men scheme to ambush Pedababu at the temple; Pedababu remains steadfast until the prayers end, and somehow fate shields him from harm. The MP’s forces withdraw, but Rudraraju presses ahead in his bid to force Geeta’s hand, striking at Geeta’s brothers and harming her parents in the process. Pedababu erupts to defend his family and to curb the violence of those who threaten them. Gradually, the brothers soften and seek Pedababu’s forgiveness.

Parvati pleads with Pedababu to accept her as a mother again, yet he remains restrained, allowing the estrangement to persist. The strain proves heavy on Parvati, who falls gravely ill. In a moving final gesture, Pedababu bows before a divine witness and finally acknowledges Parvati as his mother, a moment that rekindles her strength. The film closes on a hopeful note, with the family gradually mending their bonds and moving toward a united future, their troubles receding as love and loyalty reassert themselves.