Gundamma Katha 1962

Gundamma Suryakantham is a wealthy widow who ill-treats her stepdaughter Lakshmi Savitri, a selfless person who is reduced to working as a maid. Gundamma has a daughter Saroja Jamuna and a son Prabhakar. She is also supported by her half-brother Ghantayya, a cunning but weak milk vendor. Ghantayya schemes to marry off Saroja to his criminal son Bhoopati, who is in prison, but tries to execute his plan without Gundamma’s knowledge by spoiling every marriage proposal Saroja receives. Saroja’s arrogance and Lakshmi’s courteous attitude indirectly help Ghantayya, fueling the family’s tensions. In response, Gundamma decides to marry Lakshmi off to a vagabond and to pair Saroja with the son of Ramabhadrayya, a wealthy man living far away in Veerapuram.

Ramabhadrayya S. V. Ranga Rao learns about Saroja through a marriage broker and travels to Gundamma’s home after discovering that his late friend had once helped him convince his in-laws to accept his marriage with their daughter. Observing the household’s dynamics with Ghantayya’s aid, Ramabhadrayya hatches a plan: he sends his elder son Anji Prasad to Gundamma’s house as a servant to win Lakshmi’s heart, finding her innocent and docile, and he sends his younger son Raja to marry Saroja. Raja Nageshwara Rao Akkineni soon meets Saroja through his cousin Padma L. Vijayalakshmi, Saroja’s friend and Prabhakar’s classmate and lover. Meanwhile, Anji N.T. Rama Rao and Lakshmi wed, and Raja and Saroja begin to fall in love. Ramabhadrayya even writes a letter to Gundamma opposing the Raja–Saroja marriage, though Anji conducts the ceremony against Ghantayya’s wishes. Shortly after, Prabhakar and Padma’s marriage is also arranged.

Raja adopts a disguise, feigning drunkenness and posing as Ramabhadrayya’s son to win Saroja’s wealth. A rift forms between Anji and Gundamma, and he leaves Gundamma’s house with Lakshmi. Eventually, Anji, Raja, and Ramabhadrayya reveal the truth to Lakshmi, who learns of the true motives behind the matches. Raja storms out of Gundamma’s house, and Saroja follows him; the two relocate to Ramabhadrayya’s estate and work as gardeners, with Raja keeping Saroja unaware of their employer’s identity. Through these trials, Saroja’s character gradually shifts from arrogance to a hardworking, courteous demeanor.

Meanwhile, Durga, Padma’s ruthless and confident aunt, torments Gundamma and complicates matters by manipulating people around her. Bhoopati is released from prison, and Ghantayya pressures Gundamma for money. Gundamma’s pride leads to further fallout as Prabhakar and Padma leave for Bangalore. Durga steals money from a locker, accuses Gundamma of robbery, and imprisons her behind a room in the house. Lakshmi and Anji visit Gundamma, learn of her predicament, and together they confront Durga to retrieve the stolen funds. Bhoopati appears to help but is defeated by Anji in a duel and is hospitalized.

Saroja eventually encounters Ramabhadrayya again, learning that he is her father-in-law and employer, and she leaves after a fierce argument. On the way, she crosses paths with Lakshmi and learns of Raja’s plans and Ramabhadrayya’s true relation to her. The narrative closes with Gundamma reconciled with her daughters and making her home at Ramabhadrayya’s residence, signaling a conclusion where virtue and humility prevail within the family.