Karunam revolves around Chackochan ( Vavachan )and Chechamma (Eliyamma) who are an elderly couple living on a plantation in southern India, are awaiting a visit from their son and his family, who now live in America. The visitors do not arrive, however, the grandchildren have been offered a free trip to Niagara Falls instead. The worse news is yet to come the family plantation has been sold, and the couple must move into a home for the elderly.