Bama Vijayam

Ethiraj, a retired headmaster, leads a large middle-class joint family from a single house. He runs the household with discipline, dividing the home into three portions for his three sons. He collects their salaries and handles all finances, and even punishes wrong-doers by making them stand on a bench. His authority is respected and feared by everyone in the family.

A popular actress, Bama, moves into the bungalow next door. The three daughters-in-law and the sons meet her on the terrace and invite her to visit their house on the 16th of the month. Bama is polite and agrees to come.

Excited by the prospect of hosting Bama, the women complain that their houses lack the facilities to impress her. They pressure their husbands to upgrade their portions and the men bow to the demand, renting some items and buying others on instalment. They even hire a male servant to stay in the house to manage the extra changes.

To sustain the illusion of luxury, Parvathi borrows a diamond necklace and the women agree to pass it around the windows so Bama would think everyone has diamond jewelry.

On the day Bama visits, Parvathi locks three of her five children inside a room to hide their age, while Sita hides her spectacles to avoid revealing age. Sita fetches the diamond necklace from Parvathi when needed, and Raman is introduced by Sita as an advocate in the high court, much to everyone's surprise. The timepiece issue arises when Bama asks the time and Sita cannot read the watch without her spectacles.

Parvathi lies again, telling Bama her husband is a college principal and that she has only two children, so Sita frees the other three from the locked room. Bama concludes the children are orphans, a conclusion that Parvathi, who cannot speak English, awkwardly agrees with. Sita mocks the whole misrepresentation with a sly smile.

Krishnan's portion hosts Bama with a grand welcome—red carpet, flowers, and her favorite drinks—and the family poses for photos, still impressed by her simplicity. The moment reinforces Bama's charm while the family maintains the ruse of prosperity.

Despite Bama's gentle manners, the women grow more attached to her and begin neglecting their own duties, joining picnics at her shooting spots and socializing more than managing the home. The home becomes a stage for showmanship rather than daily life.

Krishnan arranges an instalment car for the ladies to roam, giving them mobility to meet Bama. Raman secures a telephone connection through his office by citing their father's illness, enabling daily conversations with Bama. The family becomes more entangled in appearances and convenience.

After a few months, an anonymous letter surfaces accusing one husband of having an affair with Bama, triggering suspicion and distress among the wives who fear the accusation may be true about their own husbands. Tension rises as mistrust gnaws at the family dynamics.

News of the alleged affair escalates when a newspaper prints a false story accusing Maheshwaran of illegal contact with Bama. The publication brings embarrassment and strain to the family, threatening their social standing.

The publisher issues an apology and a retraction, restoring the credibility of the family. The misunderstandings are clarified, and the plot resolves with everyone realizing the folly of deceit and vanity. The family returns to harmony, ending on a relieved note.