As the Vijayanagara Empire begins to crack under the weight of internal decay and reckless rulers, the stage is set for upheaval—and opportunity. This episode journeys through the chaotic years before Kempe Gowda I’s ascent, when intrigue, betrayal, and ambition reshaped the Deccan. From the decadent reign of Virupaksha II to the gritty rise of Saluva Narasimha, and from the slow unraveling of the Bahmani Sultanate to the quiet rise of the Wadiyars of Mysore—Ramjee Chandran uncovers the forces that converged to shift the balance of power. This is the prelude to the age of Krishnadeva Raya, and to the founding of Bangalore itself.

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The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani.

RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to [email protected]. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.