Gaayam

The film opens with Durga, a crime lord, taking it upon himself to help the needy when the law fails. A victim pleads for help after molestation by manipulators, and Durga confronts and defeats the criminals, signaling his rise to power.

A newly appointed cop, Bharadwaj, steps into the case and quickly moves the pieces around, foreshadowing his complex relationship with Durga. The intervention hints at how law and vigilante justice will intersect throughout the story.

Durga spots his former flame Anitha, now a journalism student, rekindling memories from college days. Anitha insists that any union requires Durga to renounce his brother Mohana Krishna's path, a promise he makes.

Gurunarayana orchestrates the assassination of Mohan Krishna for political gain. In retaliation, Durga kills the assailants and seizes control of the city, signaling a ruthless consolidation of power.

Sarkar is released from prison to help cover up the crime. Around this time, Anitha breaks up with Durga because of his ruthless, rationalist approach to justice.

Anitha grows into a sincere journalist who fights inequities in society. She later marries Bharadwaj, tying their fates to the turbulent world around Durga.

Durga shifts his focus toward politics, while Gurunarayana frees Sarkar from jail to strike him. This setup deepens the power struggle among rival gangs and political forces.

Sarkar launches a brutal attack on Durga inside a film theater, causing numerous deaths and shocking Anitha. She decides to reveal the truth, but faces interference from her editor and Durga; she also reveals her past relationship with Bharadwaj to him.

Durga tracks Sarkar’s whereabouts and confronts him when he tries to escape. Sarkar backs off after noticing Bharadwaj watching, tightening the tension around the central trio.

Gurunarayana abducts Chitra, and Durga rushes to rescue her, only to be incriminated in a crime and seized. Bharadwaj plans to present a witness against Gurunarayana, but Gurunarayana murders the witness, fueling Durga’s imprisonment.

Gurunarayana engineers a scheme to become Chief Minister by collapsing the government and instigating religious riots. Bharadwaj confronts Gurunarayana’s henchmen, but Gurunarayana’s wrath leads to a dangerous vendetta; Anitha’s editor attempts to suppress the truth and hands over evidence to Gurunarayana.

Gurunarayana announces a self-bomb plot to gain sympathy on Ganesh Nimajjan eve. Police release Durga to assist, and Bharadwaj takes charge of crowd control as Gurunarayana’s men threaten the ritual. Durga and Bharadwaj thwart Sarkar’s plan when the bomb detonates at a safe distance, resulting in Sarkar’s death and Gurunarayana’s severe injury and eventual sentencing.

In the aftermath, Anitha thanks Durga for the truth and for choosing a new path. Durga decides to leave his violent crusade behind and pursue a hopeful, non-violent future.