Srividya is perfect for the role of the strict matriarch . She is a retired judge always conscious of her status . She lords over every one with an iron hand . Her own brother is under her thumb and lives nearby and quietly gives in to her domineering tantrums .
Her daughter Sumitra is married to her cousin Venu but live in her house . Srividya insists on having her children around her all the time . She is always praising Sumitra for her role as a lecturer in a near by college leaving out Venu .
She wants her son Mohan lal to marry Venu's sister . Sadly she is in love with some one else but the family is too scared to tell Srividya and keep stalling .
When she leaves for a few days , the whole family is relieved and start breathing normally .
Shobhana is their next door neighbor . Her father drops her at her aunt's house for a few months as he has to go out of station for work . Shobhana joins Mohanlal's office as his steno .
After a few misunderstandings and confusions both fall in love . A couple of duets later , he manages to convince her about his family and proposes.
Though reluctant and aware of their status difference , Shobhana agrees when Mohanlal convinces her about his mother's affection towards him .
When Srividya returns , she is aghast to see her son's choice . As Shobhana is from a poor family , she refuses this marriage . In fact , she also humiliates her father who retreats quietly taking Shobhana with him . She also goes with her equally arrogant daughter Sumitra to her aunt's house to complain .
But due to her son's insistence she relents slowly .
Even after their marriage , she tries to create minor problems daily to tear them apart .
Hurt and angry , she shifts to her brother's house suddenly with Sumitra and Venu nearby . Demure and under her thumb , he hides his feelings and manages to make her feel comfortable in his house .
Slowly Sumitra realises her inlaws' affection and decides to settle with them .
Srividya is under the delusion that this marriage will break and her son will marry her brother's daughter .
Sadly for her , her brother announces one day that his daughter is marrying some one else .
Shocked and hurt she sees her empire crumbling . Very soon she comes to know about Shobhana's good qualities and shifts back with her son and daughter in law. She is tamed finally .
The story comes to a happy ending . Jagathy comes in a comic role as the family cook . Ponamma looks regal as Shobhana's aunt with a mind of her own . Both Srividya and shobhana wear soft cotton sarees . Sumitra is perfect as the ill bred arrogant daughter and wife .Venu is likable in his role as an ignored side lined son in law. A fine family formula .
