Georgia at the beginning of the 20th century. The nut collector Kalenike from a mountain village came to Kutais to sell his goods. Meanwhile, in the city square there was a performance of wrestlers from the troupe of entrepreneur Baadur Kherkheulidze. Kalenike took part in the competition and easily defeated the troupe's favorite, Ahmed. The entrepreneur invited the talented guy to his place. The simple-minded and honest Kalenike became attached to the Kherkheulidze family, and fell in love with his adopted daughter Gyuli.
Meanwhile, the wrestling fame of the peasant from Lechkhumi grew. At the World Championships in Paris, he beats his rival, the brother of Count Robert, who made a deal with Baadur, who was forced to agree to it, since the Count promised to pay well for the defeat of Kalenike. The teacher and student are forced to flee from the enraged Robert. Baadur's sick heart cannot stand it and he dies in the arms of his student. In order to take the body of the deceased home, Kalenike gets a job as a loader in the port of Marseille...
