Kanneshwara Rama

Set in 1920s India, the story follows Kanneshwara Rama, a defiant peasant who becomes a legendary outlaw after confronting local injustice. After a prison stint where he encounters Gandhi’s followers, he joins and eventually leads a group of bandits, becoming a Robin Hood-like figure who aids the poor and challenges feudal authority. His journey is complicated by his relationship with Malli, a former bandit’s mistress, and his growing ambition to establish his own principality.

Directed by M.S. Sathyu, Kanneshwara Rama leans on a strong ensemble — Anant Nag, Amol Palekar, Shabana Azmi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1977.