Krishna Murthy is the son of industrialist Kasthuri Satyanarayana, and he lives a flashy, fiercely competitive life shaped by his father’s indulgence since his mother died in childbirth. Because Satyanarayana’s wife was ostracized from her family, he swore that Murthy’s marriage would require consent from both sides, turning every potential pairing into a test of family approval. Satyanarayana treats every girl he sees as a possible match for Murthy, setting up a constant game of expectations and pressure.
At a friend’s wedding, Murthy meets Padma and gradually falls for her, though he frets about how his father will react to such a union. His first attempts to break the news are thwarted by his loyal servant Appanna, who is firmly in Satyanarayana’s corner. Yet Murthy persists, and eventually he manages to get his father to meet Padma.
The bombshell comes when Satyanarayana reveals that Padma is the daughter of Lakshmipati, a notorious miser who lives in the neighboring village. The revelation immediately shifts Murthy’s plan into a higher-stakes challenge: win Lakshmipati’s approval or watch the match fall apart. Lakshmipati, played by Kota Srinivasa Rao, is a formidable obstacle, his greed and stubbornness making the task seem nearly impossible.
Undeterred, Murthy decides to enter Lakshmipati’s world by posing as a miser himself. He moves into the residence next to Lakshmati and claims to be a local head of the All India Miser Community, orchestrating a series of comic schemes meant to demonstrate his thrift and wit. The ruse also involves fending off other suitors for Padma, whom Lakshmati relentlessly manipulates by threatening to harm himself, a tactic Murthy cleverly counters.
Murthy also agrees to coach Sundaram, Lakshmati’s son, who is in love with Subba Rao’s sister Sita. When Sundaram and Sita are caught together by Subba Rao, Murthy steps in to mediate, even offering to pay the dowry for their wedding on Subba Rao’s behalf. Meanwhile, Satyanarayana reappears in disguise, presenting himself as a potential business partner and, more importantly, as a direct challenger to Murthy’s progress with Lakshmati.
The wedding day arrives with chaos. Lakshmati proclaims the ceremony void because the dowry hasn’t been paid, berating Murthy in public. Murthy refuses to quit, and Aragundu—Brahmanandam—has grown tired of Lakshmati’s antics and leaves his side to join Murthy in the fight. Together they persuade Kukkuteswara Rao, Subhalekha Sudhakar, to offer reverse dowry to Padma’s hand, shifting the leverage back toward Murthy.
A transport strike orchestrated by Subba Rao’s company adds pressure and delays the wedding, but it also creates the moment for Padma and Murthy to confront Lakshmati with a united front. Four other suitors appear, all offering increasing reverse dowries, and Lakshmati finally agrees to consider them all. On the day of the ceremony, the grooms accuse Lakshmati of deceit, while Padma challenges her father about his greed and treats him as a human being rather than a commodity. Padma’s mother even threatens drastic action to illustrate the depth of Lakshmati’s fixation on money.
In a turning point, the suitors declare a single choice: Murthy should marry Padma. Satyanarayana, finally deflated but victorious in his own way, reveals his connection to Murthy and Lakshmati surprises him by offering to pay for the wedding refreshments. The tension gives way to a new sense of resolution, and Lakshmati, confronted with the consequences of his greed, donates his wealth to charity and passes away peacefully.
In the end, Murthy and Padma are united, and they have a son who, the epilogue notes, inherits his grandfather’s miserly tendencies. The tale closes on a note of humor and humanity, balancing laughter with a gentle reminder about wealth, family, and the true cost of greed.
- Padma: Rajani
- Krishna Murthy: Rajendra Prasad
- Lakshmipati: Kota Srinivasa Rao
- Aragundu: Brahmanandam
- Appanna: Rallapalli Narasimha
- Kukkuteswara Rao: Subhalekha Sudhakar
- Rajyam: Sumithra
- Lakshmipati’s wife: Janaki
- Satyanarayana: Nutan Prasad
