In pre-independence India, Kotaiah steals bread, ending up imprisoned for 12 years. Later, as the reformed mayor Dayanidhi, he protects his niece and her lover from persecution, dying contentedly after her wedding.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| AAkkineni Nageswara RaoKotayya / Dayanidhi / K V Purushottam | Kotayya / Dayanidhi / K V Purushottam |
| TT. Krishna KumariShantha | Shantha |
| VV. NagayyaFather | Father |
 GummadiInspector Javert | Inspector Javert |
| RRao Gopal RaoRaobahadoor Raja Ram Mohan Rao | Raobahadoor Raja Ram Mohan Rao |
| KKaikala SatyanarayanaRam Gopal | Ram Gopal |
 Allu RamalingaiahSurayya | Surayya |
| CChandra MohanArun Kumar | Arun Kumar |
 SuryakanthamKanthamma | Kanthamma |
| VVijaya LalithaSeetha | Seetha |