A classical bharathanatyam dancer and a nathaswaram player fall in love against the wishes of her family.
A king Parthiban (Ramadas) gifts a rare anklet (salangai) to a dancer Aparajita (Kumari Madhuri). She begets the king's son, Amarendran and hands him over to a priest along with the anklet. Amarendran also happens to meet a beautiful singer Shantha (Savithri), who falls in love with her and this plot forms the rest of the story.
Madhavan marries Thangam. He takes care of Thangam’s mother and brother along with his younger brother. Meanwhile, Madhavan gives shelter to his father’s mistress and her daughter. The evil ladies allege Thangam for loose morals. The rest of the story is how they come into good terms.
Mannaru falls in love with his neighbour, Leela, who is a skilled dancer and singer. Realising that he could woo Leela through music, Mannaru seeks help from his musically talented friend.
Poori (Daisy Irani) does not know who his parents are, and has been looking high and low to get back to them. Seated in a park bench beside Sundararajan (Gemini Ganesan), Poori asks his name and as soon as he replies, he proclaims that Sundararajan is his father. This creates complications in Sundararajan’s life and ruins his plans of marrying his lover Latha (Savithri). The president of a hospital for the mentally ill with a not-so-mentally-strong daughter creates more problems for the hero. After many interesting twists and turns, the truth emerges — Poori is the illegitimate child of a soldier (Mustafa) and the abandoned mother commits suicide, leaving the child behind. Sundararajan ro and Latha are so attracted to Poori that they decide to adopt him.
Sivaji Ganesan plays the role of a prince who is separated from his parents by his father's foe at a very young age. He grew up as a ferocious and vicious cavemen. Then he meets Jamuna, who by her word of love and affection turns Sivaji for good. Both set out to find the secret of Thangamalai to find and save Sivaji's parents.
Chellam begins to suspect her husband, Dr. Vembu, of having an extramarital affair after spotting him with another woman.