After being abandoned by his mother, Kunthi (M.V. Rajamma), Karna (Shivaji Ganesan) is adopted by a charioteer, Adhiratha, and his wife, Radha, who live in the kingdom ruled by blind Raja Dhritarashtra - the father of a 100 sons - including Dhuryodhan (S.A. Ashokan). Karna will subsequently learn all aspects of warfare from Suryadev, Parshuram, and befriend Rajkumar Dhuryodhan. It is this friendship that will lead him to humiliate Draupadi, and take sides in the Kurukshetra war against the Pandavas.
