Two close friends, Vijaya and Vatsala had to part ways after Vatsala's father, a lawyer loses a case of Vijaya's father and it results in the latter's death. Vijaya marries Ramu, a trade union leader against her will. Ramu leads a union strike and is killed when the agitation turns violent. Vijaya's life becomes miserable and she kills her starving children, but she is arrested before being able to commit suicide. In the end, she is given the death penalty by the prosecution, led by her former dear friend Vatsala, who had become a famous lawyer in the meantime.
The film's success prompted for three remakes with Sharada playing the same role in all versions.[5] The Tamil film with the same name was made by Vincent himself with A. V. M. Rajan replacing Nazir. V. Madhusudhana Rao directed the Telugu and Hindi versions.[4]
