The film stars Prem Nazir, Madhu, Sheela and Adoor Bhasi.
Chellamma is an orphan living in a small house situated in the compound of a landlord in the village.
As a grownup, Chellamma is a bold and independent woman who works hard for a living.
Men who covet Chellamma include the landlord and Asarakannu Muthalali, a rowdy.
One night during the festival, the pump operator comes to Chellamma's house and forces her to have sex with him.
Vally Akka and one of her friend help Chellamma during these tough days of her life.
Asarakannu Muthalali visits Chellamma in the hospital and helps her financially and shows some sympathy towards her.
While resisting him, she tells him that she considers him as her brother, on hearing this, Asarakannu feels bad about himself.
Villagers catch the pump operator and tie him to a coconut tree in Chellamma's yard.
On seeing the police coming to fetch the pump operator, he seeks the help of Chellamma to get released from the knot.
One day the pump operator, now working as a quarry worker gets severely injured in an accident.
Asarakannu wins the fight and tries to kill the pump operator, Chellamma hold his legs and begs to spare her husband's life.
Chellamma interferes and saves the poor woman and her children, she brings them inside.
The pump operator arrives the house in a drunken state, he tries to kill his first wife, but on seeing his daughter, his mind changes.
On seeing the happy reunification of the family, Chellamma feels both joy and pain at the same time.
They start parading her to the police station with the fallen coconut bunch on her head.