Pudhumai Penn

Seetha lives with her father, a Tamil teacher, in a village. The elder sister's suicide after dowry harassment haunts the family and makes finding a husband for Seetha difficult because of poverty.

Her father meets Ram, a bank employee, and introduces him to Seetha. After a few days, Ram and Seetha meet and decide to marry.

Ram's mother dislikes Seetha because her family couldn't provide a dowry and she insults Seetha frequently. Seetha tolerates the mistreatment out of love for Ram.

Seetha's father, unable to bear his daughter's suffering, commits suicide. This tragedy deepens the family's troubles and tests Seetha and Ram's bond.

Ram invites his boss Rajasekar to lunch at home. Rajasekar is attracted to Seetha, but she keeps her distance.

Ram's sister becomes pregnant by Ram's friend, and their families push them to marry. To cover the wedding costs, Ram steals money from the bank, but Rajasekar witnesses and demands a terrible price: he will forgive the theft if Ram lets him have sex with Seetha.

Angered by Rajasekar's coercion, Ram physically lashes out at him and leaves the house. This act marks a turning point as Ram becomes a fugitive.

The next day, Rajasekar is found dead and Ram is arrested on suspicion of murder. Seetha fears for his safety and contemplates how to prove his innocence.

Seetha seeks help from David, a criminal lawyer and a friend of her father, but learns that David has moved away. She then searches for another lawyer to help Ram.

Seetha finds another lawyer for Ram and begins modeling for a painter to pay legal expenses. In the process, she also provides financial help to Ram's mother and sister.

Ram's mother insults Seetha by accusing prostitution. The attack deepens Seetha's resolve and strains the family ties.

The painter asks Seetha to pose nude; she stops modeling. She then takes on other work like cooking and household chores to make ends meet.

Seetha finds David and asks him to appear in court on Ram's behalf. David tells Seetha that he killed Rajasekar for raping his sister and apologizes that Ram was falsely arrested.

David appears in court and confesses to the murder, leading to Ram's release. Later, Seetha learns she is pregnant and looks forward to sharing the news with Ram.

Ram's mother convinces Ram that he is not the father of Seetha's baby. When Ram questions Seetha about the child's paternity, she considers suicide but decides to leave home and live on her own.