Chanakya Chandragupta

Chanakya Chandragupta is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language historical drama film, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. It stars Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, Jayapradha and Manjula, with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The film is based on the 3rd century BC Maurya Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya.

Plot
The film is a historical story based on the 3rd century BC Maurya Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya. It begins with the Greek invader Alexander intruding on our borders, Magadha as his last step of sovereignty. Discerning it, fear-defying scholar Chanakya is under trace of the dynamic King to hinder it. Besides, Chandragupta is a strong fighter who flags rebellion against this foray. Indeed, he is the son of Mura, the discarded wife Mahapadma Nanda, classifying her as an underdog. Unbeknownst to it, Chandragupta moves to Pataliputra to alarm the trend.

Whereat, he bars haughty & idiotic 9 Nanda Princes that torment the public. Plus, he intimidates Chief Minister Rakshasa, a man of wit & allegiance. Rakshasa detects him as the hidden prince, which warrants his apprehension since he pledges to excel Nandas as the King. At that point, Chandragupta confronts his father when Mura frantically lands, who pleads pardon by divulging her son's birth secret. She is mortified by Nandas when Chandragupta is outraged but surrenders to Mura's word.

Amid this, he falls for a beauty, Aasa, the daughter of Rakshasa, unconscious of her whereabouts, who aids him in fleeing prison. Besides, Chanakya stepped into Raj Mahal to arouse Nandas' bravery with the sword of Damocles. In turn, he is grievously abused and cast off by them. Thus, Chanakya vows to destroy their clan, and this causes Rakshasa to assassinate him, whom Chandragupta secures. Chanakya declares him as the only one fit as Emperor, and the two fuse to seek their avenge.

From there, Chanakya moves the pawns. He solidifies Chandragupta's friendship with the tribal King Parvataka with a promise to mold his daughter Chhaya as the empress. Rakshasa also takes many steps to quash their mutiny, e.g., he makes Chandragupta the snakebite victim, digs a secret passage from the fortress to Chanakya's asylum, etc. He also heinously sculpts Aasa into a venomous beauty, sensing her amour on Chandragupta.

Parallelly, Alexander arrives when Aasa's love engulfs Chandragupta, so Chanakya ignites his valor via Mura. Forthwith, Chandragupta beats Alexander in a duel, who bows and retreats before the sacred bond between mentor & disciple. Later, Chanakya tracks down Rakshana's intrigue in digging the secret tunnel. In line with his tactics, Chandragupta launches an opposite charge and conquers Magadha. Now, Chanakya callously decapitates Nandas for Chandragupta's imperialism and creates a new clan of Maurya Empire in the name of Mura. Infuriated, Mahapadma attempts to kill Chandragupta when Mura dies, and he, too, commits suicide.

Then Chandragupta is about to pleasure himself with Aasa on the same night, and Chanakya shields him, unveiling her identity, so she makes a self-sacrifice. At last, Chanakya safeguards Rakshasa and designates him as Chandragupta's Chief Minister, applying his knowledge correctly. Finally, the movie ends happily, with Chanakya crowning Chandragupta.

Soundtrack
Music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. Lyrics were written by C. Narayana Reddy.