Balipeetam (1975)

Set against the backdrop of the caste system, this socially relevant relationship drama revolves around Bhaskar (Shobhan Babu), a Dalit who, marries Aruna (Sharada), a higher-caste woman, when she is on her deathbed. Fulfilling her wish to die a 'Sumangali' Bhaskar marries her.

However, Aruna does not die and comes back to life from deadly consumption. After her recovery she understands the enormity of her decision and its consequences. She goes to live with Bhaskar's family. However Aruna finds herself unable to get accustomed to life in Bhaskar's household. She finds his family members very much unlike Bhaskar. Their dialect, dressing sense, practices makes her feel the cultural distance.

Soon, her social conditioning causes Aruna to insult Bhaskar on the basis of his lower caste and she returns to her blood relatives. There she sees that her relatives are more interested in her money than her ill health.

Surprisingly, her cousin Kamala marries a man of different religion. She takes care of her family becoming a dutiful housewife. She becomes an instrument in Aruna's comprehension of human nature. In the end when Aruna is ill again due to consumption, she finds that she and her children need a safer abode than her own home.

She goes to Bhaskar's family, and she sees that outward appearances do not account for inner purity. The Dalit In-law family takes care of Aruna and her two children. Bhaskar comes to her and Aruna dies in his arms apologizing for sacrificing so many lives with her decisions.