Penmani Aval Kanmani 1988

Arrival in Palanganatham and Radio Mama's meddling begins

Radio Mama eagerly arrives in Palanganatham and immediately starts meddling in neighbors' lives. On the first day, he forgets breakfast for the grandchildren, prompting Parandhaman to ask him to pack lunch and go temple-hopping instead. He visits Sudha at work and introduces himself as a fan, but subtly attacks her feminist stance and how she treats her in-laws. Sudha grows angry, and Radio Mama pretends innocence while Parandhaman locks him in a room to maintain the illusion.

Uma's abuse revealed and abortion tension

Radio Mama learns Uma is suffering under her mother-in-law’s cruelty and dowry demands. He visits the treating doctor, posing as Uma's father, and reveals the truth about the abuse, asking to delay the abortion. The doctor is sympathetic but cautious given the danger at home. This marks the start of Radio Mama's quiet intervention on Uma's behalf.

Midnight visits by the drunkard neighbors

Radio Mama repeatedly encounters the drunkard father and son, who are publicly humiliated in town. They also barge into his family home at midnight for petty reasons, highlighting the neighborhood's chaos. The episodes show Radio Mama's persistence in trying to resolve others' problems despite his own family issues.

Sudha's father-in-law tragedy

Radio Mama meets Sudha's father-in-law and learns how Sudha and Sekar neglect him while accusing him of theft. He takes him in for a night, prompting a solemn, yet doomed, last morning for the elder. The next morning, the father-in-law dies, underscoring the harsh consequences of fractured family ties.

Old-age home transformation begins

Radio Mama is moved to an old-age home and announces that he chose to live there. He brings life and joy to the inmates, transforming the place with his presence. Parandhaman asks him to return home, but Radio Mama declines; only after the inmates persuade him does he agree to go back.

Kamala's rescue and Sudha's exposure

Radio Mama escorts Kamala to Sudha's workplace, where Sudha's mistreatment is exposed to Ambujam Viswanath, Sudha's boss. Sekar realizes his parents' neglect as well, and after a confrontation Sudha drives Sekar and Kamala out, resulting in Sudha losing her job. Ambujam explains to Radio Mama that solitude can help people see their mistakes.

Ambujam's guidance and apologies

Ambujam Viswanath counsels Sudha to be a better daughter-in-law and guides her to apologize to Sekar and Kamala. Kamala sacrifices by taking the blame for the missing money to protect her husband, moving Sudha to acknowledge her errors. Sudha's transformation begins as she contemplates a new, more considerate approach to family.

Vadivu's plan and its consequences

With Ambujam's advice, Vadivu temporarily leaves her husband to give him space, but the plan backfires and the drunkard family ends up remarrying. Meanwhile, Meenakshi, the drunkard's wife, imitates the same plan and hides at Radio Mama's house. The sequence pushes the men toward reform and seeds a new stability in their households.

Meenakshi's plan and reform of the drunkards

Meenakshi hides at Radio Mama's house, and the plan gradually bears fruit: the drunkard son reforms, starts a mobile food stall, and stops drinking. Meenakshi is reunited with her husband as tensions ease in the family. Vadivu's defense of her husband leads to a broader shift in the household dynamics.

Dilip and Uma's pregnancy revelation and confrontation

Dilip's mother learns Uma's pregnancy and that Radio Mama impersonated Uma's father to prevent the abortion. She confronts Radio Mama and challenges the dowry mindset as a societal problem. The conflict deepens as the family faces further pressure from within.

False case plan and brutal aggression

Dilip's mother plans to file a false case against Uma's father; Uma burns the fake affidavits, and in a fit of rage, her mother-in-law pours boiling water on Uma. The act marks a brutal escalation in the dowry-driven abuse and sets the stage for a drastic intervention. Radio Mama becomes the catalyst for confronting the cruelty.

Dilip's stance shifts; a test of love

Radio Mama informs Dilip about the full extent of Uma's suffering and counsels him to stand by her. Dilip pretends to consider divorcing but ultimately asserts that he prefers his wife, challenging the mother-in-law's control. Uma, misreading his intentions, contemplates suicide as the pressure builds.

Uma's suicide attempt and rescue in Thekkady

Uma travels to Thekkady to end her life, while Radio Mama, Dilip, and the reformed mother-in-law hurry to reach her. Radio Mama stages a ruse, telling Uma that her mother-in-law and Dilip are arrested, buying her time to reconsider. In truth, the rescuers are there to bring her back to safety.

Reunion and mother-in-law's reform

Uma is rescued and reunites with Dilip, and her mother-in-law experiences a subtle change of heart. The neighborhood finally moves toward peace as the various households adjust to new dynamics. The crisis that tied the families together begins to loosen its grip.