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Actor turned director V. Shantaram spins this first ever talkie in the Marathi language. An adaptation of the Ramayana saga, the film centers on the wise and sincere King Harishchandra (Govindrao Tembe) whose piety is tested by a wise man named Vishwamitra. He challenges the sovereign to renounce his crown and earn a thousand gold coins from his own labor. Soon Harishchandra, his wife, Taramati (Durga Khote), and their son, Rohileshwara (Digambar), are sold as slaves and are forced to toil like peasants. When Taramati's debauched owner Ganganath (Baburao Pendharkar) tries to force himself on her, Rohileshwara comes to the rescue but is killed in the process. Ganganath pins the death on Taramati and the Queen is sentenced to execution, at the hands of her husband. Just as things are about to get really ugly, the deity Kashi-Vishveshwara descends on the King, resurrects his son, and restores him to the throne.