No, Arundhati is not based on a real story or historical events. Arundhati is a 2009 Indian Telugu-language horror fantasy film directed by Kodi Ramakrishnan. It is produced by Shyam Prasad Reddy under the banner of Mallemala Entertainments. The movie stars Anushka Shetty in the titular role, alongside Sonu Sood, Sayaji Shinde, Arjan Bajwa, Manorama and Kaikala Satyanarayan.
Arundhati is a completely fictional film. The story integrates multiple elements and themes, primarily a powerful female warrior, reincarnation, black magic and supernatural revenge. There are no documented incidents, real historical events or real-life figures behind the core narrative. The movie was shot in real heritage locations to provide a grand and authentic feel to the audience.
Plot Summary
In the present day, Arundhati, a modern young woman from the royal lineage of Gadwal Samsthanam, is engaged to Rahul and preparing for her wedding. Prior to her wedding day, Arundhati visits her ancestral home in Gadwal, where she starts experiencing strange, terrifying supernatural events. An elderly caretaker and others reveal that Arundhati bears uncanny resemblance to her great-grandmother Jejamma, a legendary warrior princess from the 1920s.
The movie moves to flashback at this point. Jejamma, skilled in martial arts and dance, takes on Pasupathi, a ruthless and tyrannical evil who terrorises the region and commits horrific crimes. Jejamma trains vigorously, rallies forces and eventually defeats him in a battle. She seals his body in a tomb and uses rituals to trap his spirit forever. However, before dying, Pasupathi curses Jejamma’s lineage and swears eternal revenge.
Back in the present, Pasupathi’s malevolent spirit escapes due to manipulation and dark forces. He unleashes terror on Arundhati’s family. As the hauntings intensify, Arundhati experiences visions, which reveal that she is a reincarnation of Jejamma. She must now face the same evil that Jejamma once defeated and repeat the feat of her brave ancestor.
Bottom Line
Arundhati draws inspiration from other movies like Chandramukhi and The Exorcist, both of which were fantasy movies. However, the story is original, with a strong focus on the age-old concept of good vs evil, backed by a strong female lead.
Parts of the film were shot at the historic Nawab Palace located Banaganapalli, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. It is a real fort built in the 1860s-1870s. The story is set in the Gadwal region, which was a real kingdom located in the present-day Telangana.