Nagaraju and Malliswari are maternal cousins who want to get married. The mother of Malliswari, Nagamma, ridicules him of his low financial status. Once Nagaraju and Malliswari visit a nearby village and take shelter in a mandapa during rainfall. Krishnadevaraya, the king of Vijayanagara empire visits the mandapa along with Allasani Peddana and soldiers, and gets impressed with singing and dancing talents of Malliswari. Nagaraju, not knowing their identities, asks them to recommend Malliswari for rani vasam. Later, the father of Malliswari, Narappa, proposes his daughter's marriage with Nagaraju. Nagamma objects it and insults Nagaraju and his mother, Govindamma. Nagaraju leaves village and becomes a sculptor to earn money. After his return, he learns that Malliswari was forcibly sent to rani vasam by her mother and becomes depressed. Nagaraju is offered to join a group of sculptors to accompany them to build a mandapa for dancers in palace.