Gopalsamy, a poor graduate, travels to Madras to financially provide for his mother's eye surgery. Struggling to earn money, he encounters a Brahmin priest who coaxes him to impersonate a Brahmin to sell food in the neighboring agraharam. Being a non-Brahmin from a backward caste, Gopal finds it morally reprehensible to wear the sacred thread, but with no other options in sight, he sets off to perform Ganapati homam with three other priests...
