Chinnamani, a gifted singer who performs at village temple festivals, spends his days in a close-knit rural life with his adopted father, his sister, and a circle of friends, all sharing in the rhythms and stories of their small community.
Kanmani, a wealthy girl and the daughter of the village panchayat board president, is arrogant and quick to clashes with Chinnamani. Kanmani, (played by Radha) decides to seek revenge on him, claiming he disrespects her, and she begins to feign affection while showing a sly talent for music. She even sings Poova eduthu to reel him in and invites him to her house for an engagement, planting the seeds of a complicated relationship.
When Chinnamani arrives with visitors, Kanmani publicly humiliates him, and the tension escalates quickly: she breaks his Harmonium, and in a fit of anger he retaliates by wrecking Kanmani’s car and slapping her after she intervenes. The scales tilt further as the village panchayat orders punishment by whip, a scene that underscores the social pressures that frame their feud. In a dramatic turn, Chinnamani marries Kanmani by tying the thaali around her neck without her consent, a moment that shocks everyone and forces Janaki to weigh the truth.
Kanmani’s mother Janaki reveals the deeper history behind the feud. The truth unfolds: Chinnamani is the son of Janaki’s elder brother, once a wealthy man, and Ravichandran—an ambitious figure who had once worked under Vinu Chakravarthy—had loved Janaki. Ravichandran’s ascent comes with a price, as he takes all the properties and drives Vinu Chakravarthy away. Ravichandran’s machinations lead to tragedy, and Vinu Chakravarthy dies of disease. Ravichandran even tries to kill Chinnamani, only to be thwarted by Janaki, who rescues the child and sends him away in a coracle where he is adopted into another family. Kanmani, meanwhile, is the daughter of Ravichandran’s illicit relationship with their house maid, and Srividya raised her as her own.
Hearing these revelations, Kanmani realizes her mistake and longs to live with Chinnamani, but he remains hesitant, burdened by the past and trust issues. The household begins to heal, with Kanmani winning over Chinnamani’s sister and helping her regain her ability to speak, a sign of the tender changes she brings to the family. While she sings Kalainera Poonguyil, Chinnamani comes to her side, supporting her even as she faintly falters, signaling a shared bond and a path toward reconciliation.
The tension intensifies as Ravichandran sends a gang to eliminate Chinnamani’s brother-in-law, but Chinnamani responds with resolve and ends Ravichandran’s threat. Kanmani protects the family by moving Chinnamani and his sister to safety, and she ultimately surrenders after the murder, accepting accountability for the violence that shaped their lives. Years pass, and Chinnamani is later shown as a man grappling with mental distress, his longing for Kanmani unsoftened by the years apart.
Kanmani reappears, singing Chinna mani kuyile to rekindle the memories and emotions that bind them. The song becomes a beacon that guides Chinnamani back toward a possible future together, suggesting that their love and shared history have the power to mend a life marked by struggle, secrecy, and sacrifice.
