Deiva Magan Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Deiva Magan (1969). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Shankar is a successful businessman who carries an inferiority complex because his face is scarred. When his wife Parvathi [Pandari Bai] gives birth to a son who shares the same scars, Shankar pleads with the doctor [Major Sundarrajan] Raju to kill the child to spare him the pain he has endured. However, Raju cannot bring himself to do it and instead takes the baby to an ashram, where he is raised by its Baba [Chittoor V. Nagayya] and named Kannan. Shankar and Parvathi remain unaware of Kannan’s existence.
Kannan receives little affection at the ashram, while his younger twin brother Vijay grows up pampered and loved. Vijay falls in love with Nirmala [Jayalalithaa J], who rejects him, and Vijay’s friend Ananth [M. N. Nambiar] regularly extracts money to help construct a hotel. As Baba nears death, he tells Kannan that he is not an orphan and instructs him to seek out Raju to learn more about his past.
Nirmala is eventually revealed to be Raju’s daughter, weaving a new connection between the two families. Kannan meets Raju, who is shocked to see how closely he resembles Shankar. Raju initially resists telling Kannan about his parents, but agrees after Kannan promises that he will only see his parents without revealing his identity. That night, Kannan meets his parents, and Shankar, thinking he is a thief, shoots him. Nirmala later reciprocates Vijay’s love.
Kannan has a chance encounter with Parvathi at a temple, but she does not recognise him. Parvathi later fills Shankar in on what happened; Shankar realizes the possibility that Kannan is his firstborn and meets Raju, who confirms it. Shankar offers Kannan a large sum of money to live prosperously but does not invite him to join the family. Kannan declines, choosing instead to remain content with the knowledge that he has his parents.
Tension rises as Ananth tries to get more money for Vijay, leading him to kidnap Vijay and demand a ransom from Shankar. When the moment comes to deliver the payoff, Kannan steps in, disguises himself as Shankar, and manages to rescue Vijay. In the confrontation, Ananth is killed, but Kannan is mortally wounded. The drama ends with Shankar, Parvathi, and the police arriving at the scene as Kannan dies in his mother’s arms, which accept him as their son.
Deiva Magan Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Deiva Magan (1969) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Shankar's insecurity sparks tragedy
Shankar, a successful businessman, is haunted by his scarred face and the pain it represents. When Parvathi gives birth to a son who is also scarred, he asks the doctor Raju to kill the child to spare him that suffering. Raju refuses and instead takes the infant to an ashram where Baba raises him as Kannan, while Shankar and Parvathi remain oblivious.
Kannan grows up with little affection at the ashram
Kannan receives little affection from Baba and the other residents at the ashram, shaping a reserved personality. In contrast, his younger twin Vijay is pampered and cared for. The brothers grow up unaware of Kannan's true origins.
Vijay falls for Nirmala; she rejects him
Vijay develops feelings for Nirmala, but she initially rejects his advances. The rejection leaves Vijay hopeful yet heartbroken, shaping his actions in later events. The subplot underscores the siblings' divergent upbringings and paths.
Ananth's hotel scheme and Vijay's involvement
Ananth, a friend, regularly extorts money to fund a hotel project. Vijay helps him secure a hotel for Ananth, tying his fortunes to the extortion scheme. This alliance foreshadows tensions surrounding money and loyalty.
Baba dies and sends Kannan to learn his past
As Baba nears death, he reveals to Kannan that he is not an orphan and instructs him to learn more about his past from Raju. The dying moment motivates Kannan to seek his true family. This sets the stage for the reunion with his parents.
Kannan meets Raju; a hesitant reveal
Kannan seeks out Raju, who is shocked by the boy’s resemblance to Shankar. Raju initially refuses to disclose his parentage but agrees to reveal details if Kannan promises to see his parents without exposing his identity. The negotiation plants the seed of a fragile truth.
Kannan visits his parents at night and is shot
Kannan bravely goes to see his parents at night, hoping to learn more about his identity. Shankar, misled into thinking he is a thief, shoots Kannan. The encounter ends with tragedy and deepening rifts.
Nirmala reciprocates Vijay's love
After the initial rejection, Nirmala eventually reciprocates Vijay's feelings, adding a new layer to the intertwined fates of the brothers. The romance complicates loyalties within the family dynamic.
Parvathi meets Kannan at the temple but is unaware
Kannan has a chance encounter with Parvathi at a temple, but she does not recognize him as her son. The moment passes without recognition, leaving emotional questions unresolved. The temple meeting becomes a turning point later in the story.
Parvathi reveals the temple incident to Shankar
Parvathi recounts what happened at the temple to Shankar, suggesting that Kannan might be his firstborn. The revelation compels Shankar to seek confirmation about the boy's parentage. The family tension escalates as old wounds resurface.
Raju confirms Kannan's paternity
Shankar meets Raju, who confirms the possibility that Kannan is his son. The physician’s confirmation provides Shankar with a painful but undeniable truth. The moment shifts Shankar toward a reluctant acceptance of the past.
Kannan refuses money; signals for Vijay
Shankar offers Kannan a large sum to live prosperously, but Kannan declines, choosing a life of quiet dignity. Hidden in a cupboard, Kannan signals Shankar to give the money to Vijay instead, showing his selfless concern for his brothers.
Ananth kidnaps Vijay; ransom plan unfolds
Ananth kidnaps Vijay and demands a hefty ransom from Shankar. The family faces a crisis that pits loyalty and desperation against danger. The stakes rise as the rescue plan begins to take shape.
Kannan goes in disguise to save Vijay
Kannan volunteers to go in place of his father, disguising himself to reach the ransom meeting. He executes the plan, rescues Vijay, and kills Ananth, but he is mortally wounded in the process. The act embodies a son's ultimate sacrifice.
Kannan dies in his mother's arms
Shankar, Parvathi and the police arrive at the scene of the confrontation. Kannan dies in the arms of his mother, who finally accepts him as her son. The tragedy seals the emotional arc of the family and the revelation of Kannan's true lineage.
Deiva Magan Characters
Explore all characters from Deiva Magan (1969). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Shankar (Sivaji Ganesan)
A successful businessman whose scarred face fuels an inferiority complex. He keeps the existence of Kannan a secret for years and oscillates between generosity and suspicion when the truth surfaces. His attempts to protect or distance Kannan reveal a flawed but human father-figure.
Parvathi (Pandari Bai)
Kannan’s mother who gives birth to a scarred son under her husband's shadow. She remains largely unaware of Kannan’s existence for years and embodies maternal devotion. In the end, she accepts Kannan as her son, acknowledging the bond that endures beyond secrecy.
Kannan
Raised in an ashram by Baba, Kannan grows up with quiet dignity and a strong sense of belonging. He inherits courage and empathy, and he bravely confronts danger to save his brother and protect his family. He sacrifices his life to bridge the gap between two branches of the family.
Vijay
The younger, pampered twin who is loved by his father and family. He loves Nirmala and becomes entangled in the family’s struggles as Ananth’s greed threatens their plans. His path weaves between affection and peril as the story unfolds.
Raju (Major Sundarrajan)
The doctor who initially contemplates harming the infant but ultimately saves Kannan by taking him to the ashram. He recognizes the child’s resemblance to Shankar and becomes the crucial link that preserves Kannan’s life while guiding him to his origins.
Baba (Chittoor V. Nagayya)
The ascetic who raises Kannan in the ashram, offering spiritual guidance and a sense of belonging. Before dying, he reveals that Kannan is not an orphan and urges him to learn about his parents through Raju.
Nirmala (Jayalalithaa J)
Raju’s daughter who initially rejects Vijay but later returns his love. Her ties to the family deepen as she becomes aware of Kannan’s lineage and the danger surrounding them.
Ananth
A greedy antagonist who extorts money from Vijay to fund a hotel and ultimately kidnaps him. His ruthless pursuit of wealth catalyzes the film’s climactic confrontation, where Kannan sacrifices himself.
Deiva Magan Settings
Learn where and when Deiva Magan (1969) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
Ashram, Shankar's home, Temple
The story unfolds across key locations in India: a stern ashram where Kannan is raised by Baba, the quiet home of Shankar and Parvathi, and a temple where crucial revelations and encounters take place. The ashram atmosphere emphasizes spirituality and secrecy, shaping Kannan's sense of belonging. The temple and family homes become sites of discovery, confrontation, and reconciliation.
Deiva Magan Themes
Discover the main themes in Deiva Magan (1969). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
🪪
Identity
Kannan’s true parentage drives the plot as the film investigates what makes a family. The revelation that he is linked to Shankar reframes loyalties and the meaning of belonging. The pursuit of identity sustains tension through most of the story and culminates in acceptance.
🕊️
Sacrifice
Kannan sacrifices his safety and life to protect his brother and to resolve the conflict with Ananth. His selflessness defines his moral compass and elevates the emotional stakes of the climax. The act of sacrifice is balanced with maternal acceptance at the end.
👪
Family
The narrative centers on intertwined family bonds: Shankar’s insecurity, Parvathi’s motherly love, and Kannan’s quest to belong. The twins' contrasting upbringings— pampering versus ascetic care—highlight different paths to love and loyalty. The story culminates in a fragile reconciliation that redefines family.
💰
Greed
Ananth’s greed drives the kidnapping plot and the threat to Vijay’s safety. Wealth becomes a corrupting force, bringing danger into the family’s life. The eventual defeat of the villain exposes the cost of unchecked desire.
Deiva Magan Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Deiva Magan (1969). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a modest town where reputation carries the weight of a legacy, Shankar has built a respectable life as a successful lawyer. Though his professional veneer is polished, a scar across his face serves as a constant reminder of past hardships, shaping an inner inferiority that he guards closely. His marriage to Parvathi offers a sanctuary of love and stability, and together they nurture hopes of a harmonious future, confident that their shared resilience will shield any forthcoming challenges.
The couple’s world tilts when Parvathi gives birth to twins, a joyous occasion that quickly becomes fraught with tension. One infant bears the same distinctive scar that marks Shankar—a physical echo that rekindles his lingering shame. Overwhelmed by fear of the child’s future suffering and the social stigma he anticipates, Shankar makes a desperate, secretive choice: he tells his wife the baby was stillborn and arranges for the infant’s disappearance, sealing the truth behind a veil of silence.
Unbeknownst to the couple, the abandoned child is taken in by a compassionate doctor, Raju, who places him under the care of a humble Baba at a remote ashram. There, the boy grows up as Kannan, while his twin brother, Vijay, remains in the comforts of home, basking in parental affection. The divergent paths of the twins set the stage for an unspoken tension that lingers beneath the film’s gentle, melodious surface. A young woman named Nirmala also enters the narrative, her connections hinting at further intertwining of destinies.
The story unfolds with a quiet, lingering melancholy, exploring themes of identity, parental love, and the shadows cast by societal expectations. It invites the audience to contemplate how hidden truths can shape lives in unforeseen ways, while the richly drawn characters navigate the delicate balance between duty, acceptance, and the yearning for belonging.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2025)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.