শরদিন্দু বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের উপন্যাস অবলম্বনে 

• Princess Bidyutmala, the daughter of Kalinga king Bhanudeb, travels to Vijayanagara along with her sister Manikankana, to get married to King Devaraya II. This is a marriage of alliance after the Kalinga king was defeated in war. So, Bidyutmala is unhappy and unwilling.

• They sail through river Tungabhadra and on the way, rescue a commoner, Arjunbarma from drowning. Arjunbarma was escaping from the Muslim kingdom and going to Vijayanagara to get employment as a soldier. He had the special knowledge of walking on stilts.

• The group, along with Arjunbarma is washed ashore after a massive cyclone. Arjun saves Bidyut from drowning, and slowly, an emotional attachment developes between the two. King Devaraya II welcomes his guests and rewards Arjun for saving Bidyutmala’ life by employing him as a soldier. Later, when Devaraya’s younger brother Kampana attempts to take his life, Arjun saves him by killing Kampana. He gains the King’s trust. Meanwhile, King Devaraya develops a strong liking for Bidyut’s sister, Manikankana.

• As Bidyut was saved by an unknown person Arjun, the law deems it fit to defer the marriage by 3 months. These eventful months sees a relationship develop between Bidyut and Arjun, with the former selecting the latter as her beloved. She offers him her ring, which is accepted, but not without hesitation.

• When they are about to flee Vijayanagara, they are caught red-handed by none other than the King himself, with some help from his attendant Pingala. The enraged Devaraya orders Arjun to leave his kingdom and never return again.

• Absolutely shattered, Arjun leaves Viajayanagara with his blacksmith friend Balaram. On the way, while seeking shelter in a cave, they discover the neighboring Bahamani Army marching towards Vijayanagara through a secret tunnel.  Arjun returns to Vijayanagara in record time on his stilts and informs the King. To protect his land, King Devaraya appoints Arjun as the Senapati of the Army. Arjun proves to be capable in the art of war by protecting Vijayanagara.

• In return, King Devaraya allows Arjun to marry his beloved Bidyut, albeit in utmost secrecy. On the day of their marriage, it is publicly announced that Bidyutmala has committed suicide. The King marries Manikankana. Unknown to everybody except the King, Arjun marries Bidyut and starts living in a cave with her.

• The two of them lead a happy life, and as one event leads to another, Bidyut gets pregnant. It is at just this time when Arjun is called to the battlefield. The King promises him that Bidyutmala would be taken proper care of. Pingala is sent to the cave to tend to Bidyut.

• After the war, as Arjun returns home, he is shocked to find his child dead, and his beloved Bidyutmala insane. Victorious on the battlefield, Arjun finds himself defeated at home, as Bidyut breathes her last in his arms.

• Finally, Arjun challenges King Devaraya when the latter does not allow a proper funeral for Bidyutmala. Arjun soon comes to know that his child was murdered by command of the King himself. Blinded by rage, the bereaved man attacks the King. Their swordfight is one which marks the ever-present feud between the powerful and the commoner, the ruler and the subject, the right and the wrong, and between good and evil.

• The river Tungabhadra silently witnesses the tragic story of the starry-eyed and star-crossed lovers, Arjunbarma and Bidyutmala. The river has been seeing such unfair events unfold before her eyes since time immemorial. She soon realizes the bitter truth and strengthens herself to witness another similar tale, for sooner or later, history will repeat itself. On this tragic note, the play comes to a close.