Kanyasulkam is an adaptation of the popular Telugu play of same title. The film deals with prejudices of contemporary Indian society such as child marriages.

An opportunistic young man, Girisam, befriends a wise and righteous prostitute, Madhuravani. Girisam tries to woo a young woman, Buchamma, in the pretext of teaching English to her brother, Venkatesam. Ramappa Panthulu negotiates bride price for marrying off Venkatesam's 9 year old sister, Subbamma, to an old man, Lubdhavadhanulu, to which her father agrees. Subbamma's uncle, Karataka Sastry, decides to thwart the marriage with the help of his disciple, Mahesam. Karataka Sastry convinces Ramappa Panthulu to cancel the proposal and marry off his daughter (Mahesam in disguise) to Lubdhavadhanulu. The marriage is performed with the help of Madhuravani and Lubdhavadhanulu later learns the truth. Girisam elopes with Buchamma to Vizag and gets married with the help of Madhuravani and a lawyer and social reformer, Soujanya Rao.