Sankarappillai (Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair) is the local business man who runs grocery shop in the village center. He also owns the little textile shop of the village which his son Raghuvaran Pillai (Adoor Bhasi) operates. Sankarappillai's family also includes his second wife Eeswari (T. R. Omana) and daughter Gomathy (Sharada). Sankarappillai is separated from his first wife Kalyani (Adoor Bhavani) but visits and supports his daughter Omana in the first marriage.
Gomathy is in love with Madhavankutty (Prem Nazir) an educated but unemployed young man. Sankarappillai and Eeswary also encourages their relation. Madhavankutty takes up job in a news paper in the town. Raghu wishes to expand the textile business, Madhavankutty introduces Raghu and Sankarappillai to his old class mate Vasukkutty (K. P. Ummer). Vasukkutty's uncle Pankippillai(GK Pillai) run a bigger textile shop in the town. Though two head-strong men clashes at first Pankippillai agrees to loan textiles worth Rs 30,000 to Sankarappillai. Vasukkutty meets Gomathy during a business visit to Sankarappillai's home and falls head over heals for the beautiful girl. Seeking business advantage Sankarappillai decides to arrange Gomathy's wedding with Vasukkutty leaving a heart broken Madhavankutty resort to writing.
Sankarappillai's calculations fails when Pankippillai refuses to honor the loan arrangement even after wedding. In the mean time, relation slowly develops between Madhavankutty and Omana. Raghu falls in love with Vasukkutty's sister Kamalam (Vijayasree). Gomathy and Vasukkutty visits Sankarapillai with this proposal. Sankarappillai agrees with the condition of Rs 10,000 as dowry from Pankippillai. During the wedding arrangements, Sankarappillai visits Pankippillai and demands the dowry beforehand. This angers Pankippillai who refuses to give the money. This cancels the wedding and angers Vasukkutty.
The rest of the story is Sankarappillai's fall clashing with his own family.