5
Stories
In the heart of the picturesque town of Kumbhagiri, the annual festival
draws people from near and far, including 17-year-old Aarti and her
peculiar family. Her older brother, Ramanna, is 20 years old but bears the
mental capacity of a 12-year-old, a condition that endears him to those who
know him. Aarti’s father, Shankar, is a widower who once championed the
cause of nature conservation. Little do they know that their family’s destiny is
intricately tied to the mystical Kumbhagiri Mountain.
The festival commences with a dark cloud hanging over it: the forest
department and the local police have halted the ascent to Kumbhagiri
Mountain. Fear of a man-eating leopard has gripped the town, leading to the
arrest of Ramanna and a young trekker named Harsha. Abodhi, the stern
police officer, issues a chilling warning, forcing Harsha to abandon his dream
of conquering the mountain.
But Aarti possesses an unwavering determination to scale Kumbhagiri.
Despite her brother’s warnings and the ever-present threat of the leopard,
she persuades Ramanna to accompany her on the treacherous journey. As
they ascend, their bond strengthens, and the beauty of the mountain takes
their breath away. However, as they descend through the thick forest,
Ramanna mysteriously disappears, leaving Aarti guilt-ridden and
heartbroken. Aarti’s determination to find her brother drives her to file a
police complaint.
Unfortunately, the authorities dismiss Ramanna’s disappearance, ridiculing
his childlike mind. Aarti’s fury intensifies, but even her father, Shankar,
believes she should quit the town and allow the police to handle the situation.
Aarti refuses, finding solace in the secret sanctuary of a kind flower vendor
named Revanna.
On another front, Veeresh, a town priest, longs to lead devotees up
Kumbhagiri Mountain for the festival. Seeking Abodhi’s permission, he faces
rejection due to the looming leopard threat. Their exchange sows the seeds of
discontent in the town Aarti’s quest to find Ramanna leads her to Harsha, but
her association with him puts her in danger as she becomes a target for Abodhi’s men. Harsha’s forced withdrawal from the search puts Aarti in a
precarious situation. She turns to Revanna’s deaf and dumb son, Yogesha,
who secretly harbors a crush on her. Together, Aarti and Yogesha embark
on a mission to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances in
Kumbhagiri.
What they unearth is shocking. The leopard is not the sole culprit; rather,
it’s a cover for a darker conspiracy. Ten years ago, Shankar and Veeresh
were close friends who fought against illegal mining, a menace destroying
their beloved forest. When miners kidnapped Shankar’s wife and killed her,
the two friends devised a plan to rally the villagers. They fabricated a story
about a Kumbha god, a leopard god dwelling in Kumbhagiri Mountain. They
claimed that if the villagers didn’t worship him and continued mining, he
would devour the townsfolk. The tale united the community, driving the
miners away.
A decade later, illegal mining has resumed, and Abodhi, once their ally, is
now complicit in the desecration of the mountain. He employs the fabricated
story to deter villagers from approaching Kumbhagiri. Veeresh’s
determination to lead the festival climb this year ignites a town-wide protest.
However, the revelation of his treachery with the miners turns the villagers
against him, leading to his death and Abodhi’s expulsion from the town.
Finally, the townspeople regain the mountain, fulfilling their dreams.
Amid this turmoil, Aarti’s search for her brother leads to the discovery of
a warehouse where Ramanna was held captive. With Revanna’s support,
Aarti manages to rescue her beloved brother, reuniting her fractured family.
