Missamma

Gopalam is the zamindar of Appapuram and the affectionate founder of a struggling high school. He hopes to reform the school by replacing staff with a married teaching pair and using the setup to train his younger daughter in traditional arts. His warmth masks an impulsive willingness to bend rules to secure his family’s happiness.

Gopalam's nephew and an amateur detective who bumbles through schemes. He becomes entangled in Rao and Mary's ruse while pursuing his own romantic interest in Sita. His cleverness is undercut by clumsy execution, creating comic tension.

An Ayurvedic doctor and teacher at the school who indulges in plans that use students for making medicines rather than real teaching. He adds comic mischief and a skeptical eye toward the new married teachers. His self-interest often clashes with genuine education.

Mary is Mahalakshmi’s missing self, raised by a Madras-based Christian couple and named Mary after adoption. She takes a job with Rao to help repay a debt, while hiding her true identity. As she forms feelings for Rao, she navigates cultural expectations and personal loyalty to her past.

An unemployed graduate who threads his way into the plan to secure work by posing as Mary's husband. He acts as a pragmatic facilitator of the ruse and becomes Rao's ally in navigating the school’s challenges. His quick thinking keeps the debt repayment plan afloat.

Gopalam’s daughter who seeks music lessons from Rao and develops feelings during the unfolding drama. Her innocence and musical ambitions intersect with the romantic complications around Rao and Mary. She represents traditional arts and family expectations.

A loan shark who tries to force Mary into marriage to waive his debt. He drives the conflict with a predatory motive and becomes the principal antagonist in the early layers of the plot. His capture marks a turning point toward resolution.

A helper and cook who accompanies Rao and Mary, providing practical support and backup. He facilitates the daily life at the regimental household and helps keep the façade intact. He represents loyal, working-class steadiness in the narrative.

A mother figure in Mary's foster family, offering warmth and moral guidance. Her presence grounds the emotional core of Mary’s identity and belonging. She embodies familial care beyond blood ties.

A crafty friend who befriends Rao and accompanies the group while teaching clever, if frugal, ways to survive on the edge of propriety. He contributes to the film’s humor and street-smart adaptability. His presence helps keep Rao's plans afloat.

An interviewer who appears during the job recruitment and school processes, representing authority and the formal check against the characters' deception. His interactions heighten the tension and push the plot toward its eventual truth. He embodies the institutional backdrop of postwar Indian society.