Aval Appadithan

Manju grows up in a dysfunctional family with a timid father and a philandering mother. The instability of her early years shapes a guarded, cynical view of men and relationships. These scars become the lens through which she navigates love and opportunity later in life.

Manju's college relationship ends when her lover abandons her to marry someone for employment. The betrayal wounds her trust and reinforces a belief that men will sacrifice stability for personal gain. The experience hardens her approach to subsequent romances.

Manju reveals that she was molested by her uncle, an event that deepens her sense of vulnerability. The memory fuels a protective emotional distance and a suspicion toward male advances. It underpins the complexity of her later reactions to relationships.

Her second love, Mano, is the son of a Christian priest. He uses her for his own lust and publicly calls her 'sister' to her parents, humiliating her. This brutal treatment cements her cynicism and her reluctance to trust men again.

The accumulation of betrayals and humiliation crystallizes Manju's pragmatic, sometimes harsh outlook on romance and ambition. She learns to mask vulnerability with sarcasm and opportunism. This mindset makes her both intriguing and difficult for others to untangle.

Arun travels from Coimbatore to Madras to make a documentary on women. He brings a sensitive, sincere perspective that contrasts with Manju's guarded stance. The project brings them into contact as colleagues and potential partners.

Manju is drafted by Thyagu to assist Arun on the documentary. Arun shares what he learns about Manju's past with Thyagu, who warns him to steer clear of such women. The exchange foreshadows tension among the three characters.

As they work together, Arun develops genuine feelings for Manju. He is drawn to her complexity and vulnerability, even as she remains guarded. The budding romance adds emotional pressure to the project and their relationships.

Manju incurs Thyagu's wrath when he overhears her scolding staff about her character. Threatened, she resigns from her job, shocking Arun and upending the project's dynamics. The resignation heightens the emotional stakes for all involved.

Arun pleads for her to be rehired, and Thyagu relents, bringing Manju back. She seems to re-enter the fold and begins to court Thyagu, signaling a shift in power dynamics. Arun watches, increasingly unsettled by the apparent opportunism.

It is revealed that Manju had been baiting Thyagu to teach him a lesson about male arrogance. She lets him believe she has feelings for him, then exposes the manipulation as a deliberate test. The revelation fractures the trust already strained among the trio.

At a party banquet, Thyagu attempts to take advantage of Manju. She rebukes him and slaps him, then watches him flee in fear. This marks a dramatic turning point in their dynamic and highlights the consequences of power misuse.

Disillusioned by Manju's behavior, Arun marries a small-town girl. The marriage underscores the collapse of the relationship and Manju's ongoing life-cycle. It also foreshadows the loneliness and unfulfilled potential that runs through the story.

Manju tells her aunt about the party incident and the attempted humiliation of Thyagu. The aunt bluntly says she deserved it for turning away a golden opportunity, offering a harsh moral judgment on Manju's choices. This moment emphasizes the film's moral ambivalence.

In a final car discussion, Manju asks Arun's wife what she thinks of women's liberation, and the wife admits she does not know. Manju cynically says that is why she is happy. A closing voice-over proclaims that Manju died today but will be reborn tomorrow, signaling an endless cycle.