Director: Chitrapu Narayanamurthy; Writer: Narasa Raju D.V., Arun Das; Producer: A.V. Meiyappan; Cinematographer: A. Vincent, P.N. Sundaram; Editor: R. Vital; Cast: S.V. Rangarao, Anjali Devi, Rojaramani, T.S. Balaiah, Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, A. Karunanidhi, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Haranath, L. Vijayalakshmi, Vanisri, Geethanjali Ramakrishna, Venniradai Nirmala, Vijayalalitha, Shantha
Duration: 02:35:42; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 50.136; Saturation: 0.378; Lightness: 0.373; Volume: 0.113; Cuts per Minute: 11.233
Summary: The Four Kumaras visit Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu. Jaya-Vijaya, the demigod gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, fail to recognise them and deny entry. In resentment, they curse the duo stating that they would have to give up divinity, be born and live as mortal beings on Earth. Vishnu fails to revoke the curse of the Kumaras and offers two solutions: be Vishnu's devotees in seven human lives, or his enemies in three demonic lives. Jaya-Vijaya cannot bear separation with Vishnu for so long and choose the second possibility. In their first demonic lives, Jaya-Vijaya are born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha to sage Kashyapa and Diti in an inauspicious time during a sunset. Hiranyaksha, in an attempt to win over the deities, torments the Earth and its inhabitants. Bhudevi, the Earth goddess, goes to Vaikuntha and seeks Vishnu's help. Vishnu arrives as Varaha, a wild boar-faced avatar, and kills Hiranyaksha thereby saving the Earth. Seeking revenge for his brother's death, Hiranyakashipu prays to Brahma for gaining powers that could make him immortal. He gains a boon which makes him invulnerable to death either by day or night, either in the morning or the night, and either by a human or a beast.
In Hiranyakashipu's absence, Indra, the king of the deities, tries to kill the former's wife Leelavathi and her unborn child. Sage Narada intervenes and takes Leelavathi to his hermitage, where she gives birth to a boy named Prahlada. Hiranyakashipu invades Vaikuntha but is unable to find Vishnu. He declares himself as the king of all the celestial worlds and returns to Earth. The deities approach Vishnu, who promises to kill Hiranyakashipu at the right time. Five years later, Prahlada is sent to the hermitage of Chanda-Amarka, the children of Hiranyakashipu's master for education. After returning from the hermitage, Hiranyakashipu learns that Prahlada has become a staunch devotee of Vishnu, and identifies the deity with the name Srihari. Hiranyakashipu explains to Prahlada that Srihari was responsible for Hiranyaksha's death, and is therefore their enemy. He requests Prahlada to stop worshipping Srihari, which the latter politely declines.
Hiranyakashipu then makes repeated attempts of filicide on Prahlada, hoping that the fear of death would make Prahlada cease praying to Srihari. Prahlada is made to starve, and is jailed in a dark room. When he refuses to budge, Hiranyakashipu issues orders to his soldiers to make elephants trample onto Prahlada. When their attempt fails, they throw Prahlada from a steep cliff. Srihari rescues Prahlada, and the soldiers call a group of tribals, who are snake charmers. They ask the group to harm Prahlada using snakes. Prahlada prays to Srihari, and the snakes turn into garlands of roses. Shocked, the snake charmers beg Prahlada to bring the snakes back. He prays to Srihari, who restores the snakes. The tribes declare Prahlada as their leader, which further angers Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu orders his soldiers to tie Prahlada's hands and feet, and throw him into the sea. Convinced that Prahlada is dead, Hiranyakashipu laments that he had to kill his son for avenging his brother's death, and that the child had more love for Srihari than him. Prahlada is rescued by Srihari, who sends him back home. Initially happy to see Prahlada alive, Hiranyakashipu is angered that his son still worships Srihari. Narada approaches Hiranyakashipu and confirms that Srihari is saving Prahlada every time, adding that he resides in Prahlada, whose death would defeat him.
In a final attempt, Hiranyakashipu gives Prahlada poisoned milk and orders him to drink it before his eyes. Prahlada drinks it and survives, making Hiranyakashipu believe that his death has arrived in the form of Prahlada. When Hiranyakashipu questions Prahlada about the abode of Srihari, the latter replies that he is omnipresent. Hiranyakashipu breaks a pillar with his mace, calling Srihari to come out of it. Srihari arrives as Narasimha, another avatar of Vishnu with a man's torso and a lion's face, and kills Hiranyakashipu. Narasimha's anger is subdued by Prahlada and the deities, who sing his praises and request him to re-appear as Srihari. Vishnu appears and crowns Prahlada as the king of the demons, advising him to lead a virtuous life as a ruler.
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