Gundamma is a rich widow who dotes on her daughter Saroja but mistreats her stepdaughter Lakshmi. When brothers Anji and Raja encounter this family, they decide to teach the old woman a lesson.

Manju is an outspoken woman. She lives with her father, who tries to socially reform people. Belonging to a middle class family, she cannot provide a dowry for potential grooms. One day, Manju comes across an innovative advertisement where a groom is looking for a bride without any dowry. His family shocks Manju's father, but she is determined to make a life with them. Will she succeed?

The life of 2 friends suguna (Savitri) and chandram (Nageshwara Rao) is potrayed as they and people around them swing between happiness and misery ( denoted as light and shadow).

Ramadasu, a perpetual debtor, wants his son Raghu to marry Manjari in order to acquire Mukunda Rao's assets. But Raghu is already married to Leela and Manjari loves Raja, Leela's brother. Raja and his friend Bhaja Govindam hatch a plan to teach everyone a lesson.