Server Sundaram

Sundaram arrives in Madras with big dreams of becoming an actor. He accepts a job as a hotel waiter to support himself while pursuing those dreams. He starts navigating the challenges of city life and labor in the hospitality industry.

While catering for an excursion to Mahabalipuram, Sundaram meets Radha, the daughter of his restaurateur. He misreads her friendliness as romantic interest and falls for her. This encounter sets the pursuit of love against the backdrop of his day job.

Sundaram encounters his friend Raghavan, an influential businessman, at the hotel. He confides his acting ambitions and his love for Radha without naming her. Raghavan becomes intrigued and supportive of Sundaram’s dreams.

Raghavan believes in Sundaram’s potential and resolves to help him. He uses his influence to guide Sundaram toward opportunities in film and to support his pursuit of Radha. This marks the start of Sundaram’s rise to stardom.

Sundaram describes the girl he loves to Raghavan without naming her. Raghavan realizes that the girl is Radha and that Sundaram’s affection might be shared or complicated. The discovery sets the stage for a strategic plan to help Sundaram’s filmmaking dream.

Sundaram's debut film is a success, propelling him into stardom. He begins to believe that fame will help him win Radha. The new status brings attention from the industry and creates tensions in his relationships.

Radha visits Sundaram’s house to congratulate him and meets Raghavan. She asks why he did not attend the marriage proposal, and Raghavan explains his belief that Radha loved Sundaram. Radha clarifies that she likes Sundaram for his innocence but does not love him.

Raghavan is surprised by Radha’s confession and decides to protect Sundaram’s career. He asks Radha to keep their misperceptions secret to avoid harming Sundaram’s film prospects. The delicate balance among the trio is maintained.

Sundaram’s mother expresses a desire that she should die in his arms, highlighting the emotional cost of his rising fame. She misses his presence, and the family pain grows as his acting career takes precedence. The scene adds a personal stake to his ambitions.

Believing Sundaram may drift away, Raghavan decides to tell Radha that she should marry Sundaram. He does not want to backstab his friend, and his intent is to secure happiness for all involved. This marks a turning point in the romantic triangle.

Radha chooses to express her real feelings to Sundaram, revealing that Raghavan is her fiancé. She explains that she never expected Sundaram to mistake friendship for love. The confession triggers emotional turmoil for Sundaram.

Sundaram, heartbroken, accepts that Radha loves someone else and that Raghavan will marry her. He congratulates Raghavan and hides his own disappointment, showing maturity despite his loss. The moment marks a shift in his outlook on love and ambition.

During the filming of the climax, news arrives that Sundaram's mother has fallen and is badly wounded. The studio blocks access to him, delaying news. After finishing the shot, he learns of his mother's death and regrets his detachment from family in pursuit of fame.

At the marriage ceremony of Radha and Raghavan, Sundaram dons his old waiter uniform. He tells his friend that acting was only a role, and that true peace of mind rested in his time as a hotel waiter. The ending emphasizes his search for inner peace over fame.