- Shambuga is given a new assignment. He is asked to “borrow”
a huge stash of iron that belongs to Ponnivala’s forest-dwelling
neighbours.
- As usual, Shambuga puts on his turban for this important job.
It is his badge of status.
- Then he goes to visit the forest Princess, Viratangal. He
knows she is in charge of this wild place. It is best to get her
buy-in for his plan.
- Viratangal agrees to let Shambuga “borrow” the iron and
follows him to her forest temple. She is expecting him to weigh it
first, and then to bring a cart to carry it away.
- But Shambuga, afraid she might change her mind, just picks up
the load of iron and carries it off! He waits for Viratangal to
leave the scene before doing this.
- The Ponnivala artisans use this new iron to build a huge bird
net. They want to catch a parrot in the same forest where
Viratangal lives! Of course Shambuga did not tell her that part of
the plan!
- The hunting party sets off through the forest with Shambuga
in the lead. He is the one to carry the heavy iron net. The parrot
they want to catch will become a pet for Tangal, the young sister of
the twin Ponnivala rulers.
- Shambuga’s two masters are there as well. Soon they hear a
tiger roar. Shambuga rushes forward to protect everyone, leaving
the iron net with the other men.
- Shambuga bravely confronts the first tiger he sees.
- Soon Shambuga has successfully killed several of these fierce
forest beasts!
- But now there are tigers everywhere, thousands of them.
Shambuga starts to run across their backs!
- Shambuga even pulls an injured tiger off the back of his
fellow hunter, saving his life! He understands wild animals and is
not afraid to touch them!
- Next the Ponnivala hunting party is attacked by wild vipers
and cobras. Shambuga seizes one of these snakes and cuts it in two.
- But the snakes keep coming until there are thousands of them
attacking at once. Shambuga and Shankar bravely kill them all.
- Finally the Ponnivala hunting party reaches the tree where
they know the parrot they want has its nest.
- Shambuga is successful! He catches a parrot. It is put in a
lovely cage that the hunting party brought along. Now everyone can
admire it!
- Shambuga returns with the hunting party to Ponnivala. The
first thing they do is present the parrot to Lord Ganesh. They
thank this god of “new beginnings” for his support during their
successful hunting adventure.
- Then the parrot is presented to Tangal, Ponnar and Shankar’s
young sister. She is delighted to have this new companion. It will
be a lovely pet!
- Meanwhile Shambuga puts his masters’ two horses away in
their fine stable, as usual. Now these trustworthy friends can have
a good rest!
- But soon another problem arises. Tangal’s maid goes to
fetch water outside the palace walls. The loyal little dog Ponnacci
is with her.
- The forest-dwelling hunters, brothers of the forest Princess
Viratangal, are angry. They know about the female parrot that was
stolen from their tree, right under their noses. So they decide to
kidnap Tangal’s lovely maid in return!
- Shankar comes to hear about the kidnapping and orders
Shambuga to try to rescue this palace maid from the hunters’
clutches.
- As usual, Shambuga first puts on his turban, his badge of
active duty.
- Then he finds the forest hunters. He lies to them saying
that his masters have been mean and disrespectful and that he now
wants to work on their side. Furthermore, he has brought back their
iron (which has now been made into a valuable net).
- The hunters believe Shambuga and show him where the maid has
been tied up. They ask him to guard her while they go and eat
lunch. But Shambuga, of course, takes this opportunity to try to
free her.
- The hunters soon discover that Shambuga has lied and try to
attack him. But these men are no match for Shambuga’s fighting
skills. Instead, Shambuga takes them both on at once!
- Shambuga wins the day and runs off with the lovely maid in
his arms. He also carries the iron net back with him.
- But now he has a new idea. He lays down the net to use as a
trap. He covers it with branches so the hunters chasing him will
not see it. Then attaches a rope that he will use to pull up the
net’s edges when the hunters step on his secret!
- The hunters step on the trap. Shambuga quickly and
skillfully pulls on his rope.
- The iron net’s edges bend up to form a sack, trapping all
the hunters that were chasing Shambuga. He then dumps his catch in
a nearby forest well. The heroes’ First Minister is a tricky
fellow indeed!
- Having achieved his aim, Shambuga walks calmly back to the
Ponnivala palace with the rescued maid in his arms.
- Shambuga’s two masters are impressed by his achievement.
They offer him a large barrel of country liquor and then tell him to
go and rest.
- Shambuga falls asleep near the heroes’ two magical horses.
He loves their company!
[<==Back to Part 2]
- Soon after Ponnar and Shankar turn sixteen their mother
insists that they marry. Shankar tells Shambuga that he will need
his help.
- After Shankar gets dressed for his wedding Shambuga brings
him his fine horse. He watches his master prepare to mount.
- Shambuga runs after Shankar’s galloping horse at lightning
speed. Shankar’s brother Ponnar has already gone ahead to take
care of the preliminary ceremonies their mother wants performed.
- It is a long way. The landscape the they pass through varies
and includes huge rock outcroppings.
- They finally reach the wedding site. Shankar now hands
Shambuga his horse to look after. He will be busy with the required
ceremonies.
- The wedding is brief and the two brothers agree to perform
only the bare ritual necessities. Each ties a necklace on his new
bride. The formal proceedings are over quickly.
- The brides are given their own palanquin to ride back to
Ponnivala from the place where the wedding happened.
- Shambuga is told to meet the ladies’ palanquin when it
arrives. He has put on his ceremonial turban for this important
job.
- Next, Shambuga has been told to take the brides to a special
home, built just for them. He asks the women to follow him there.
- Shambuga then leads the two brides to their newly built
living quarters.
- But once inside the two women get a shock. This is not what
they expected!
- Shambuga quickly closes the front door of the brides’ house
and locks it tight. It is a trick. The brides will have to remain
here, all by themselves!
- Shambuga tells them both to spin to keep themselves occupied!
This is what his masters have told him to say and do. It was not
his decision. Why this happens is a different story.
- Not long after, Shambuga is given his next big job. He is to
accompany his two masters on an expedition.
- The destination is a neighbouring area where their clan
cousins’ families live. These families grabbed lands belonging to
Ponnar and Shankar’s father long ago. Now these two sons plan
revenge.
- Shambuga deliberately separates from his masters. He has
been assigned to make a surprise entry into the local school house.
He starts by running behind several buildings to avoid being
noticed.
- Shambuga’s surprise is to enter through the school house
roof! It is made of thatch. He climbs up a post and then jumps
down through the ceiling. Meanwhile his two masters guard the exit
doors.
- Soon the students’ parents come to defend their children.
Shambuga is told to give them a good whipping while his masters
watch. They want to show these men that they are now in full
control. They are the new rulers of Ponnivala!
- To make the message clear, Shambuga takes the time to
intimidate the local school teacher as well.
- But Shambuga’s tasks are many. Next he is asked to help
Ponnar, the elder brother, carry some symbolic tribute to the Chola
king. He is Ponnivala’s neighbouring overlord.
- But this loyalty to the Chola king does not last. After a
time Ponnar and Shankar desire independence. Now Shambuga helps his
two masters attack the Chola king, ending his rule and destroying
his palace.
- Shambuga is a skilled fighter. He jumps the Chola’s fine
horses from behind and throws off their riders.
- Shambuga is so strong he can lift two opponents at once and
toss them both aside!
- Here Shambuga throws one more Chola fighter into a pot of
boiling water in the palace kitchen!
- At the end of the battle the two farmer-kings are triumphant
and the Chola’s power is completely destroyed.
- When the war party returns to the Ponnivala palace Shambuga
is formally thanked by the two ruling brothers for his bravery and
loyal service.
[<==Back to Part 1]
