Timmanna Motegalu opens with an evocative instrumental, an aural invocation of the forest’s breath, its rhythm, and mystique. This prelude flows into a melodic tribute to the lush Malnad region, celebrating its rain-drenched beauty, forgotten traditions, and the ancestral wisdom of the Western Ghats. Adapted from Rakshit Thirthalli’s short story in Kaddina Nentaru, the film unfolds like a slow-burning folktale, rooted deeply in land, culture, and conscience.

Cast: Keshav Guttalike, Ashika Somashekhar, Suchendra Prasad, Sringeri Ramanna, Pragathi Prabhu, Raghu Ramanakppa, and Master Harsha

Director Rakshith Thirthahalli

At the heart of the film is Timma (Keshav Guttalike), a humble forest dweller whose house collapses in a storm. Desperate to rebuild, he seeks help from Venkataiah (Sringeri Ramanna), a Brahmin and spiritual figure who warns against disrupting nature’s order. His refusal to assist Timma sets the stage for a moral and philosophical dilemma—how far can one go to survive without betraying the very land that sustains them?
When a group of researchers and wildlife photographers, led by the focused and determined Vijay Kumar (Suchendra Prasad), enters the forest to study and conserve the king cobra, the narrative shifts. Their arrival disrupts the community’s fragile balance. Venkataiah, more a guardian of the forest’s spiritual ethos, views the scientific mission as interference. But Timma, swayed by the lure of money, agrees to help the team find a cobra nest with rare eggs, despite his wife’s fear of divine retribution.