Haalu Jenu 1982

Ranga Dr. Rajkumar, a middle-class working man, is happily married to Kamala Madhavi. Their newlywed life is abruptly jolted when Kamala collapses unconscious. At the hospital, the doctors confirm Kamala has blood cancer and urge Ranga to stay hopeful as he does everything in his power to care for her. Shattered, Ranga pours most of his savings into her treatment, clinging to the belief that he can save her life.

One afternoon, Ranga notices Meena Roopa, a young woman who is cornered by men demanding payment for a staged accident. With quick wit, Ranga intervenes and rescues her, earning her gratitude. He soon learns Meena is Shaanthamma’s daughter from a rich family, and he weaves a plan to insinuate himself into their circle, hoping Shaanthamma could be a source of funds for Kamala’s care. Meena begins to develop feelings for him, but Ranga purposefully keeps his distance to avoid hurting her.

At the hospital, Ranga hears about Dr. Varma, a famed oncologist. He asks his friend Dr. Subbu to arrange an appointment with Varma, which requires ₹20,000. He earns the money by selling Gopalayya’s car after a prior episode, and the couple travels to Bombay to meet Dr. Varma. After the check-up, Varma sends a treatment instruction letter to Dr. Subbu through Ranga.

Back at Shaanthamma’s house, Gopalayya arrives with the lawyer Baratlaw to seize the property using a signed power of attorney. Ranga exposes Gopalayya’s deceit, and Baratlaw tears the document apart and expels Gopalayya from the house.

Later, Ranga is invited to a marriage proposal for Meena. He evasively declines, quipping that according to his horoscope, the one who marries him will die soon. He hurries back to Kamala, but Kamala does not approve of his avoidance.

Meena grows bolder and decides to stay at Ranga’s place when her mother wants her married off to Baratlaw. Meena’s father, Ugra Narasimha [Shakti Prasad] reveals a painful family secret about raising a boy connected to Sita, his deceased daughter, and he confesses he cannot pay the convent fees. Ranga promises to help with the costs and even takes the boy into their home as a pretend widower father to win Meena’s trust. Meena accepts the ruse, though she remains happy at the prospect of motherhood to the boy. The next day, Ranga returns the boy to the convent. After a heated argument, Ranga slaps Meena, prompting her to question the path toward Baratlaw’s marriage. Kamala senses his turmoil and feels bad for hurting Meena. A nurse in the adjacent bed overhears the tale of Shaanthamma and Sita and reveals a new thread to the mystery, showing a photo of Sita with the man who cheated her—the boy’s true origin is tied to Ugra Narasimha.

On Meena’s wedding day, Ranga enters the hall with the boy and reveals the boy’s true father is Baratlaw. He hands the boy back to Shaanthamma’s family, and Gopalayya forces Baratlaw and his father to leave the hall.

A few days later, Dr. Subbu calls to say Kamala has been moved to the intensive care unit for an operation overseen by Dr. Varma. Ranga pleads for ₹10,000 from Shaanthamma, but she’s influenced by Baratlaw and refuses. Kamala’s condition worsens, and Meena steps in with the money, urging Ranga to hurry to the hospital. When he arrives, Kamala is barely holding on, the room quiet with a sense of finality. In her last moments, Kamala asks Ranga to sing a line she cherishes as a vow for his future with Meena:

Dehavu Naanu Pranavu Neenu

Kamala passes away just as the song reaches its end, leaving Ranga and Meena to navigate a life shaped by love, loss, and the legacy of Kamala’s dream.