A remake of the 1982 Hindi film Arth, it focuses on Thulasi, a wife caught up in marital discord, and her life henceforth.

Thulasi, who grew up as an orphan girl and always dreamt of owning a house, becomes insecure when she finds that she and her husband, Muralikrishna, have to leave the apartment they rent.

The twist that occurred when Murali gives her the keys of a new house proves to be double-edged, when it is revealed that he is in love with another woman, Kavitha, with whom he earned the money (in the film industry) for the new apartment.

She is helped by Gowrishankar, a singer, to surpass the difficulties of life as a single person, to find a job and to rely morally on herself.

Gradually, Kavitha's mental instability deepens her fears of insecurity, even after Murali requests Thulasi to sign the divorce papers.

Although Marupadiyum is a remake of the Hindi film Arth (1982), director and cinematographer Balu Mahendra described it as being "dangerously close to [his] own life.

[12] Malini Mannath of The Indian Express wrote that the film "looks more like a second-hand import of another man's experiences, told more beautifully no doubt, but not with equal finesse".

"[3] Kalki's critic applauded Mahendra's direction and Rohini's hysteria-based performance as new to Tamil cinema, but gave the film an overall mixed review.