Apthamitra

Ramesh and Ganga relocate to Mysore with the aim of purchasing an ancient palace against his uncle Shivananda’s wishes. The new residence becomes the setting for a series of unsettling events. They bring along Shivananda’s family, including his daughters Vani and Hema, and the caretaker Rangajja with his granddaughter Sowmya.

Shivananda agrees to live with them on one condition: the locked first-floor room must not be visited by anyone. The prohibition raises curiosity about the room and its history. The family settles in while Rangajja and Sowmya remain nearby in the outhouse.

The palace’s legend centers on Nagavalli, a court dancer, and Raja Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur. He killed Ramanatha and Nagavalli, who vowed to burn him on the very day of Durgashtami. This tragic history haunts the present as strange occurrences begin to unfold.

As uncanny events mount, Sowmya is repeatedly found at the scene of incidents, fueling suspicion against her. The family calls in a psychiatrist, Vijay, to help explain the strange happenings. Ramesh hopes the explanations will calm the growing fear around the house.

Vani is in love with Mahadev, an orphan dance teacher who lives behind the palace, and Vijay learns of their relationship. Shivananda approves their alliance, and the engagement moves forward. The family’s plans distract from the mounting supernatural mystery.

While the family is away selecting Mahadev for Vani, Ganga uses Sowmya’s key to open the forbidden first-floor room. Mysterious attempts to kill Ramesh occur, and each is narrowly foiled by Vijay. The opening of the room links past legends to present danger.

Vani is attacked by an unknown entity, heightening the sense that a malevolent force is at work. The family brings in Acharya Ramachandra Shastri, a respected exorcist, to perform a peace ritual at the palace. The events deepen the tension surrounding the engagement plans.

On the eve of Mahadev and Vani’s engagement, Ganga accuses Mahadev of molesting her, which both Mahadev and Vijay deny. Ramesh becomes angry at Vijay over the accusations, while Acharya demands the truth behind the incidents. The mood in the palace grows volatile as hidden histories surface.

Vijay reveals that Ganga is actually inhabited by the Nagavalli personality, who is drawn to Nagavalli’s diary and suffers from split personality. This revelation ties the present events to the long-ago story and explains the haunting behavior. The tension shifts from mere superstition to a psychological revelation.

Ganga, in Nagavalli’s persona, intends to kill Vijay by recreating the vow she made to burn Raja Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur on the coming Durgashtami. The stakes rise as the festival approaches and the exorcist prepares for a dramatic confrontation. The plan sets the stage for the climactic showdown.

On Durgashtami night, the family and Acharya allow Ganga as Nagavalli to burn Vijay alive. Acharya blows smoke and ash on Ganga’s face, while she is handed a torch. Ramesh opens a trapdoor to free Vijay, and an effigy of Raja is burnt instead, thwarting Nagavalli’s revenge.

Convinced that Raja is dead, Nagavalli’s personality departs from Ganga, and she is cured of the split condition. Vijay helps Ganga recover psychologically, guiding her back to herself. Ramesh thanks Vijay for his role in resolving the crisis.

Before leaving, Vijay meets Sowmya and asks her to meet his parents if she truly loves him and wishes to marry him. The moment hints at new beginnings for Sowmya beyond the haunting events. She contemplates the proposal as the couple's paths diverge.

Mukunda, Shivananda’s elder brother and Ramesh’s maternal uncle, accompanies Vijay on his journey to the States as he has developed affection and respect for him. The departure signals a closing of the chapter at the palace. The film ends with these two characters setting off toward new destinations.