The film is set in the Nelakondapalli village of khammam district in Nizam Princely State of Hyderabad of the late 1940s. The feudal society is under the vice-like grip of an aristocratic family and its head, a Dorasani (Shwetha Menon). Mallamma (Baby Annie) is the darling of the village, who is living in perpetual humiliation. They seek solace in her songs. Brought up by Sambayya, an old man, she develops a mysterious attachment to a basil tree which is regarded as holy by the entire village.

In Nelakondapalli village, Adilabad district, Mallamma (Annie) is a girl who is a very talented singer. She is taken care of by an elderly man in her village. On one occasion, the elderly man and Mallamma visit the house of the Dorasani (Shwetha Menon) to seek her permission for Mallamma's education. Dorasani hears Mallamma's song there and gets very angry as her own daughter can't sing. She bans Mallamma's song and threatens her with death. When Mallamma accidentally sings again, her house is burnt and the elderly man is killed. Mallamma is saved by the music master (Nasser). When Mallamma comes to know that only Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi can save her, she sets out to Delhi on a lonely journey. When she is attacked in Delhi by Dorasani's men, she loses hope and wants to end her life. The story of Rajanna (Nagarjuna ) is then revealed to her by the music master. She is inspired by the heroic deeds of Rajanna and she goes about facing her difficulties. How does she do it?

C.I.D. Rajanna is a 1970 Indian Kannada-language film produced and directed by R. Ramamurthy, starring Rajkumar. The supporting cast includes Rajasree, Premalatha, Dinesh, Ranga, Dwarakish and K.S. Ashwath.