Mayil is a 16-year-old schoolgirl who lives in a village with Guruvammal, her mother. Guruvammal also takes care of a limping orphan who is called "Chappani" (Lame) by the villagers and does whatever he can to earn a living. Mayil's ambition is to become a teacher, and she hopes to marry a sophisticated, educated man; although Chappani is in love with her, she ignores him.