Morning Raga

The film opens with a collage of ideal village life in south India, underscored by a Carnatic performance. Swarnalatha is introduced as the revered singer in a prosperous land-owning family. Abhinay, heir to another affluent clan, longs for a different future and dreams of starting a Western pop troupe.

On the death anniversary of Abhinay's parents, his grandfather conducts the traditional riverbank rites. Swarnalatha completes her ritual and fixes Abhinay with an intense, lingering gaze. A nearby car nearly hits him, leaving Swarnalatha rattled and haunted by old memories.

The near-accident forces Abhinay to meet Pinky, a strikingly modern city girl who has become stranded in the village. Abhinay invites her to stay at his grandfather's house until her car is repaired. The cultural clash between Pinky's city energy and Swarnalatha's village world begins to surface.

Pinky stays in the village while her car is repaired, and Abhinay's inspiration for a new music project grows. She becomes a bridge between the two worlds, helping him see possibilities beyond the village's traditional expectations. The initial plans for a troupe take root.

Two decades pass and Vaishnavi's son returns to his homeland determined to abandon jingles and form a troupe that creates lasting music, reminiscent of the Charminar era. He reconnects with Swarnalatha's legacy and the village's musical history. The stage is set for a new musical collaboration.

On the death anniversary of Vaishnavi, Abhinay hears Swarnalatha singing in a temple and is drawn to her presence. The two eventually reach a village bridge where a car driven by Pinky collides with Abhinay, triggering Swarnalatha's intense guilt and fear. She rushes home, haunted by the past.

The car's malfunction strands Pinky in the village, and she ends up spending the night at Abhinay's place. The next morning, the group decides to head to Hyderabad to seek out the right musicians. The seed for a formal troupe begins to grow.

They travel to Hyderabad to recruit artists for the proposed troupe, securing Balaji as the guitarist and drummer. The team begins to assemble, bridging Pinky's boutique-driven world with Abhinay's musical ambitions. Tension and excitement mingle as the lineup forms.

Back in the city, the assembled musicians converge at Pinky's boutique where rehearsals start in earnest. Abhinay grows impatient with the boutique's glossy environment, while Pinky acts as a calming, practical counterpoint. The fledgling troupe starts to find its rhythm.

Abhinay retrieves his late mother's violin and explains to Swarnalatha that her voice and the instrument belong together. He invites her to sing with the troupe, hoping to blend tradition with their modern sound. Swarnalatha declines, stating she will not come to the city.

The troupe visits Swarnalatha's home for Ganesh Chaturthi as her husband welcomes them. She begins singing the song's sophisticated svaram but cannot find a matching accompaniment, and ends by refusing to join the city-based project. The struggle between staying put and pursuing the city dream continues.

The next day, Abhinay's father voices his disapproval of his son's musical ambitions in front of Swarnalatha. Despite the misgivings, she agrees to sing in the city, seeing potential for bridging past and future. The decision marks a turning point toward the troupe's professional journey.

On the way to the city for the concert, a bus journey challenges Swarnalatha and she becomes ill, complicating the troupe's plans. The setback tests the group's resolve and their ability to adapt. Pinky and Swarnalatha's bond deepens during this fragile moment.

Back at the village, Pinky begins learning Carnatic music from Swarnalatha as part of her evolving role. In a charged confrontation on the road near the bridge, Pinky reveals that her father was drunk and caused the accident, shedding new light on Swarnalatha's past guilt.

The story culminates in a city concert where Swarnalatha appears and delivers Thaaye Yashoda. On repeated urging from Pinky, the performance resonates with audiences, turning into a ten-week hit and binding the two generations through music.