Kadambari 1976

Kadambari is a 1976 Indian Bollywood drama, romance, offbeat film released on Jan 01, 1976. The film is directed by H. K. Verma, produced by Madhusudan Kumar.
Kadambari presents one of the greatest novels of Sanskrit literature on the screen. It is Bana Bhatts creation of beauty in prose, and depicts the story of the conflicts between love and Tapas, and though the characters are supernatural, they react to the same feelings and emotions as ordinary human beings. The dignity, sublimity and ecstacy of love, the beauty and granduer of youth, self-restraint, and temptation, from the theme of this story. . Two ascetics, Kapinjal and Pundarik, out for penance, while discussing the meaning of "Tapa" lost a flower which Pundarik had in his land. They go to "Gandharva Nagari" to pick some flowers. Here Kadambari and her childhood friend Mahasweta are worshipping Kamdeo (Cupid), the presiding Deity of Gandharvas. They take to vow to remain virgins for Deity of Gandharvas. They take a vow to remain virgins for life, but decide that between the two of them, whoever first touches a man, would marry him. They then proceed to put into practice their decision, and start playing (Ank Michowli) hide and seek. Mahasweta blindfolded touches and catches hold of Pundarik, and Pundarik bewildered at her beauty and youth, falls in love with her at once and cast off her asceticism forthwith. Mahasweta opens her eyes, and fall in love with Pundarik. . Kadambari a witness to this episode, casts her eyes at the Moon, and is thrilled. She herself could not explain why! Kapinjal gets angry with his friend Pundarik, and rebukes him for yielding to temptation, and thereby losing all his years of Tapobal (Power of Penance). Pundarik however replies, that what pleasure he had not derived in years of Penance, he got in a moment of drinking at the fountain of beauty of Mahasweta, and proceeds to go away with Mahasweta. Kapinjal stops them, and Mahasweta retorts that Kapinal does not know what love is. Kapinjal, however, takes away Pundarik, and love-sick Pundarik gets worse when he reaches his place. Kapinjal decides to come back to Kadambari to ask her to send Mahasweta with him. Kadambari refuses to send Mahasweta, thereupon Kapinjal curses her to fall in love with an unknown person and suffer the pangs of love. Mahasweta offers to go with him, and implores that he should take back the curse. . Kapinjal and Mahasweta reach Devalok, but by them Pundarik is no more. He is dead. Kapinjal makes Tap, and promises Mahasweta to bring back to life, her lover. But in the meantime an unknown person comes to take away the body of Pundarik. With his power of penance Kapinjal sees that the unknown person is moon, and curses him that he be born as a human being, and be caught in the pangs of love. The moon curses back that Kapinjal also be born on earth, so that he may witness all the sweet agony of love. . While Kadambari is restless in Gandharva Nagri becauses of moonless nights, on Earth is born Sukhnas prime minister Tarapid, a son by the name Chandrapid, and also a horse by name Indrayudh is born. The trio grow up and we now see them in the full bloom of youth. While all along Kadambari in Gandharva Nagari is lonely and dpressed. She now decides to go to Devalok and meets Mahasweta. There she sees Mahasweta worshipping at the feet of a stone image of her lover Pundarik. She decides not to disturb her and goes away from her. . On the earth at this time, Chandrapid and Vaishmpayan decide to go for hunt. Tarapid the king, gives three advices to the youngsters before leaving for the forest. One is that Chandrapid or Vaishmapayan while hunting should ride the horse Indrayudh. Two, that they should not seperate from each other under any circumstances; and three that they should not fall in love with unknown girls. . The expected however happens, and we see Chandrapid and Vaishnampayan, separated while hunting ! In his search for Vaishmapayan, Chandrapid meets Mahasweta and she narrates to him her tale of uncommon love. They both go to Ghandravalok, and there Kadambari is bruning with Viraha Agni (Fire of Love) and when Mahasweta gives her consolation and narrates her that she was a guest with her, Kadambari sees Chandrapid and instaneously recognises that he is her dream man. [Source: Booklet] Check out this page for more updates on Kadambari.