Embedded with deep social relevance and charged emotions, this family-oriented drama probes into the struggles faced by modern women in a male dominated society, through the life of Saritha (Jayaprada), a working woman in a middle-class family. She works hard to support her widowed sister, unmarried sister, her blind younger brother, her mother, her drunkard brother Murthy (Rajinikanth) and his family. Her father abandons the family and becomes a saint. Her brother not only does not take responsibilities, but also creates additional problems for her.
She has a longtime boyfriend, who wants to marry her, but she doesn't because of her commitment to her family. His eyes now wander to Saritha's widowed younger sister (Sripriya) who reciprocates his feelings. Saritha, after reading her boyfriend's love letter to her sister, arranges for them to get married, thus giving up her chance of having a life with him.
She eventually accepts a marriage proposal of her boss (Kamal Hassan), when she realizes that her brother has become responsible enough to take care of her family. Will she finally have the opportunity to unburden herself from all her responsibilities and settle into a happily married life?
The film is a remake of the K. Balachander's own Tamil movie Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974).
In 2001, Jayaprada acknowledged the deep impact this film had in her personal life, as she very much related to the lead character.
This is Jayaprada's first starring role, reprising the role played by Sujatha in the original and is considered to be one of her best films. This was also Rajinikanth's first major role.
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