Maya Bazaar (1957)

Set against the backdrop of the Mahabharata, this historical epic traces the twists and turns in the love story between Arjuna's son Abhimanyu and Balarama's daughter Sasirekha

Subhadra, the sister of Balarama and Krishna marries Arjuna, one of the Pandavas and their son Abhimanyu loves Balarama's daughter Sasirekha. Both families decide to conduct their marriage once they reach adulthood. By the time Abhimanyu and Sasirekha turn adults, the Pandavas lose in a game of dice to the Kauravas led by Duryodhana due to the manipulation of Sakuni. As a consequence of this loss, they lose their kingdom and are forced to roam around in anonymity.

Balarama decides to teach a lesson to the Kauravas and reaches Hastinapuram. Sakuni and Duryodhana together shower utmost respect towards Balarama and after manipulating him, they seek his favour by asking that Sasirekha be married to Duryodhana's son Lakshmana Kumara. They do it with the intention of forcing Balarama and Krishna to support them if Pandavas wage a war after the completion of their fourteen year exile. Unaware of this, Balarama accepts.

Balarama's wife Revati refuses to honour her previous commitment of conducting the marriage of Sasirekha with Abhimanyu due to the present financial position of the Pandavas. Krishna then manages to send Subhadra and Abhimanyu to Ghatotkacha's ashram. Initially, Ghatotkacha assumes them to be intruders in his forest and attacks them, but later apologizes for his misunderstanding.

When Subhadra narrates about what happened of her son and Sasirekha, Ghatotkacha decides to play some trickery in Dwaraka. He first, with the knowledge of Krishna and a servant girl, flies the sleeping Sasirekha along with her bed, from Dwaraka to his forest. Next, using his magical powers, he assumes the form of Sasirekha and goes back to Dwaraka and wrecks her wedding with Lakshmana Kumara.

He creates a Maya Bazar and makes Kauravas stay there where his retinues create havoc. On the wedding day, Ghatotkacha makes Lakshmana Kumara lose his mental balance by appearing in different tantalising forms. Meanwhile, back in the forest, Sasirekha is married to Abhimanyu in the presence of Krishna. When Sakuni accuses Krishna for all the misdeeds, the former is made to speak the truth using a special box and Ghatotkacha reveals his real identity.

While the Kauravas are sent back to Hastinapuram, Sasirekha's parents accept her wedding and bless the newlyweds back at the forest. All thank Ghatotkacha for conducting the marriage who then credits Krishna as the mastermind behind everything happened.