The film features an ensemble cast including Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, S. V. Ranga Rao, M. R. Radha, R. Muthuraman, V. K. Ramasamy, V. Nagayya, Karikol Raju, Sheeladevi, K. R. Vijaya and Baby Shakila.

In Karpagam, a rich farmer (Ranga Rao) makes his newly married daughter (Vijaya) and her husband (Ganesan) live in his house to take care of his business.

It was remade in Hindi as Rishte Naate (1965), in Telugu as Thodu Needa (1965), in Malayalam as Vishukkani (1977) and in Kannada as Muddina Aliya (1996).

Nallasivam is a rich farmer and lives in the village of Pillaiyarpatti with his son Rajangam and daughter Karpagam.

Karpagam and Sundaram continue to live with Nallasivam at his request to take care of the households and the farm.

Pankajam, who has ignored her child in her formative years, is annoyed with this development and, at the instigation of Thandavam, forces Rajangam to send a legal notice to his father, asking for property settlement.

Thandavam, frustrated with his failure to swindle the wealth of Nallasivam's family, decides to kill Sundaram and sends goons to attack him.

When she is almost dying, Meenakshi sings her favourite song "Athai Madi Methaiyadi" and Amudha is saved.

[7] Vijaya, then known by her birth name Deivanayaki, had given a dance performance at an event in Island Grounds which Ganesan attended.

[2][10] The songs "Athai Madi Methaiyadi" and "Mannavane Azhalama Kanneerai" attained popularity.

[14] T. M. Ramachandran, writing for Sport and Pastime, appreciated the film for various aspects, particularly the cast performances, but was disappointed over Savitri's limited role.

[20] Karpagam was remade in Hindi as Rishte Naate (1965), and in Telugu as Thodu Needa (1965), where S. V. Ranga Rao and V. Nagayya reprised their roles.