Dagudumuthala Dampathyam Story

The film begins with Raja Shekar and Lalitha, an ideal couple happily married for fifteen years. Their close friend Gopalam is troubled by his daughter Rekha’s refusal to marry, as she despises men under the influence of her indulgent uncle, Major Narasimham. To help, Raja Shekar and Lalitha devise a plan: Lalitha stays in Narasimham’s house as a guest, while Raja Shekar poses as their tenant. There, he befriends a humble rickshaw puller, Kishtaiah, who secretly loves Rekha. With clever schemes, the couple play-act as lovers themselves to stir Rekha’s emotions, eventually leading her to reciprocate Kishtaiah’s feelings. Just as all seems well, a shocking twist occurs—a woman named Radha arrives, claiming to be Raja Shekar’s wife, armed with proof. Despite his desperate attempts to deny it, Lalitha too begins to believe her. Radha clings to Raja Shekar, leaving him helpless while Lalitha, devastated, struggles with despair.

Raja Shekar pretends to accept Radha’s affection in order to care for her fragile state, but Lalitha’s anguish grows so deep that she contemplates suicide. At last, Raja Shekar uncovers the truth: Radha is Kishtaiah’s sister, who had once been married to another man—also named Raja Shekar, his exact lookalike. Tragically, her husband died in an accident, and Radha’s mental condition deteriorated. To protect her, this Raja Shekar had been playing the role of her late husband. Once the truth comes out, Lalitha is saved from her despair, and Radha finds peace. The story concludes on a happy note with Kishtaiah and Rekha’s marriage, while Raja Shekar and Lalitha reaffirm their own bond.