The film is set in the 1950s. Mohan (Upendra) returns from the West after educating himself with a double degree. He reels under the influence of the west so much that he finds the traditions and customs followed in India to be utterly senseless. He is also an heir to a fortune left by his dead zamindar father. Mohan starts visiting a prostitute Kantha (Ramya Krishna) every day. After looking at his bad behavior, his mother decides to marry him off to a traditional girl Chandra (Abhirami). During the first night, he asks Chandra for a lip-to-lip kiss and when she refuses to do so, he becomes angry. He declares that he would not touch Chandra again. He starts living in Kantha's house. He prefers to stay at the birthday party of Kantha's mother to the last rites of his deceased mother. He transfers all his property to Kantha and then declares himself bankrupt. After two years, Mohan is suffering from leprosy. Kantha locks him up in a cellar and treats him like an untouchable. After some time, Kantha throws him out of her house and Mohan loses his eyesight in the process. He starts wandering in the village to beg for food. One evening, he goes to Chandra's house to beg. This brings the film story to its climax.