Bhurivasu, the minister of the king of the city of Padmavati, and Devarata, the minister of the country of Vidarbha, as soon as Bhurivasu had a daughter, Malati, and Devararata, the son of Madhava, conspired to betroth them. But King Padmavati firmly decided to marry Malati for his favorite - the courtier Nandan. An old friend of Bhurivasu and Devararata, the wise Buddhist nun Kamandaki, is taken to prevent this marriage. She invites Madhava to Padmavati and during the spring festival arranges a meeting between Malati and Madhava, during which they fall in love with each other and exchange their portraits and vows of eternal fidelity. In addition, Kamandaki attracts the sister of Nandana Madayantika to the side of the lovers to carry out her plans. A tiger breaks out of its cage, but is saved by a friend of Madhava Makaranda and conquers her heart with her courage.
Disregarding the requests of Bhurivasu, Malati and Madayantika, the king announces the engagement of Malati and Nandana. In desperation, Madhava goes to the cemetery, ready to enlist the support of the cemetery demons, just to upset the upcoming marriage. But just when he appears in the cemetery, the yogin Kapalakundada flies there with Malati abducted by her, so that the mentor of the yogini sorcerer Aghoraghanta sacrificed the beautiful girl of the city to the bloody goddess Chamdunde, or Durga, and gained irresistible magical power. Madhava rushes to the defense of Malati, kills Aghoraghantha, and Kapalakundala swears in impotent rage to take revenge on him and his beloved.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the wedding of Malati and Nandana. During the wedding procession, Malati enters the temple to pray to the gods, and here Kamandaki dresses her, puts her wedding dress on Makaranda, which during the next ceremony replaces the bride. Kamandaki herself harbors Madhava and Malati in her abode. When Nandana, left alone with the imaginary Malati, tries to take control of her, he suddenly encounters a decisive rebuff and, annoyed and humiliated, refuses the naughty bride. Having successfully completed his mission, Makaranda, together with the Madayantik who took part in the deception, flee to the monastery of Kamandaki and join Malati and Madhava.
However, the trials for lovers are not yet over. Madhava and Makaranda have to fight the city guards chasing the fugitives. And during the fight, Kapalacundad flies in and kidnaps Malati, intending to put her to brutal death in revenge for the death of Aghoraghanta. Madhava, upon learning of Malati’s abduction, is desperate to rush into the river. All his friends and even Kamandaki, whose plan was suddenly upset, intend to put an end to his life. But then a student and girlfriend of Kamandaki Saudamini, who owns the great secrets of yoga, appears. With her art, she frees Malati from captivity and death and returns her to Madhava. At the same time, she announces the message of the king, in which he, with the consent of Nandana, allows the marriage of Malati and Madhava, Madayantika and Makaranda. Joyful glee replaces recent fear and despondency among the participants in the events.
