A terrorist plants several bombs throughout the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka and threatens to detonate them unless prisoners are released.

In 1814, a nobleman from the Kandian Kingdom of Sri Lanka helped the British army to revolt against the king of Southern India, but was driven to a traitor. His wives have to choose between committing suicide or marrying outcasts. Instead of suicide, young and beautiful Tikiri chooses to marry an untouchable, named Vijaya.

In a small Indian village, Lila is learning to dance from her mother, Devadasi, a Bharatanatyam dancer. She falls in love with low class Shyam, who dreams of becoming a sculptor. Shyam asks Lila to model for him as he sculpts a goddess, and the two become very close. However, their relationship is discovered by the village chief Subha, and Lila decides to sacrifice her happiness for her mother and Shyam.