Swathi Kiranam

A shabby old man living near a temple in Tapeswaram is beaten by shepherds who think he is a thief. The police take him into custody. The inspector informs his aunt about his past as a famous musician, Anantha Rama Sarma, setting up the flashback.

In the police station, Inspector Radhakrishna explains Anantha Rama Sarma's status as Sangeeta Samrat and his four-year disappearance. He describes how the town wondered about his fate until this moment. The aunt listens as the backstory is introduced.

The flashback shows Anantha Rama Sarma as a renowned Carnatic composer with an inflated ego. He rejects the Padma Shri award, deeming others unworthy to share the honor with him. This arrogance plants the seeds of his later downfall.

In the same village, Gangadhar, from a working-class family, eschews formal schooling and spends his days by the riverside. The river inspires him to compose songs in multiple tunes. A music teacher recognizes his talent and begins nurturing him.

Gangadhar performs Pranathi Pranathi at Meher Baba's ashram, before Anantha Rama Sarma, and wins admiration. The audience, including Sarma's wife Sarada, hails him as a child prodigy.

During a lifetime achievement award event for Anantha Rama Sarma, Gangadhar's own song Aanathi Neeyara outshines the maestro. The crowd adores him, including Sarada.

Sarma becomes jealous and invites Gangadhar to stay at his house to learn music, claiming it will help him perform on stage. He assigns Gangadhar to compose tunes for concerts but remains unimpressed with the prodigy. The mentorship turns sour as jealousy grows.

Sarma performs one of Gangadhar's compositions, Shivani Bhavani, at Ganapathi Sachchidananda's ashram in Gangadhar's absence. Gangadhar arrives as the performance unfolds, and Sarada discovers a stash of Gangadhar's tunes. The revelation escalates the conflict between them.

In a raw moment, Sarma admits his fear that Gangadhar's talent will erase him, even joking about killing him to avoid jail. This admission triggers a heart attack for Sarma, shocking everyone present and altering the course of events.

To spare Anantha Rama Sarma the shame of witnessing his own downfall, Gangadhar kills himself, seeking to end the competition and protect Sarada's honor. The village reels from the revelation and Sarma is left to face the consequences.

The villagers label Anantha Rama Sarma a murderer for Gangadhar's death. Overwhelmed by guilt, he flees the village, becoming a recluse and mentally unstable as the consequences of his jealousy sink in.

Back in the present, Anantha Rama Sarma awakens in the music teacher's house and is gently shown the error of his ways. He is advised that change is permanent and he has a chance to reform. Returning home, he finds his wife conducting music classes and the Gangadhar Music Academy; he sits among the children, learning the basics from his wife.