Based on the 1961 novel Naa, by the Bengali writer Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. Balaji, Savitri, M. R. Radha and Rajasulochana.

It was released on 14 April 1962[2] and became a commercial success, running for more than 100 days at all centres in Tamil Nadu.

The zamindar and Mangalam plan to get Raju and Gopal married and they seek the marriage broker Kailasam.

Upon reaching home, Gopal lies to the zamindar and Mangalam that Meena had to stay behind in order to sit for examinations.

As time moves on, the zamindar calls in Kailasam to find out from Rao Bahadur when is he sending Meena down.

Furious on hearing this, the zamindar hits Gopal and drives him away, but Mangalam believes that her son is innocent.

Upon knowing this, Raju becomes restless and guilty that his deed led to a serious matter and tries to steal the letter from Gopal at night.

Gopal wakes up suddenly and unsuspectingly questions, but Raju behaves under the pretext on searching for his books and unknowingly drops the letter on the floor while leaving the room.

Seeing the lights were on, Mangalam enters Gopal's room and found out that the handwriting of the letter belongs to none other than Raju and gets very mad.

Gopal angrily leaves the room, gets drunk and returns to Meena and when a quarrel broke out again, whips her, which results in her fleeing back to her parents' place.

Gopal goes over to Rao Bahadur's place and pleads to Meena to forgive him and to follow him back, but she refuses.

Mangalam falls ill and informs the zamindar, Rao Bahadur, his wife and Meena that the letter originated from Raju and not Gopal.

[6] The underlying theme of the film is "how a deep friendship between cousins is affected due to both of them being besotted with a woman.

[8][9] The song "Pon Ondru Kanden" is set in the Hindustani raga known as Brindavani Sarang.