Thankamma is heartbroken when her lover Shivaraman abandons her for his duties as a sailor. She marries another man and tries to settle down, but she learns that she is expecting Shivraman's child.
On his pilgrimage to a temple to immerse the ashes of his mother in the sacred river, Rakhavan befriends a tribal family. He comes across the lives of the tribal people and their struggle.
Rajan is a real terror in his village. Emotional setbacks in his life were responsible for his delinquent nature. Rajan was in love with Radha and they wished to get married. But their dream is not realised. Rajan's brother Gopala Pillai marries Radha. Neglected and deceived by his own brother, lover and family members Rajan turns delinquent.