Indian

A series of knife killings erupts in Avadi, with victims stabbed and left paralyzed before dying. The pattern is consistent enough for investigators to suspect a single, methodical killer. In response, the Chennai Police Department, in liaison with the CBI, forms a joint task force led by Krishnaswamy to track down the killer.

A letter left at the scene of a government treasury killing bears old-fashioned handwriting. Analysts infer the writer is more than 70 years old, which narrows the suspect pool. The team uses this age hint to focus their hunt on an elderly suspect.

Based on the clues and age estimation, investigators identify Senapathy, a retired Indian freedom fighter and a member of the Indian National Army, as the prime suspect. His background and age align with the killer profile. The revelation shifts the pursuit toward his doorstep.

Chandru, a small-time broker outside the Regional Transport Office, and his assistant Subbaiah help people bribe officials to obtain permits and licenses. The operation underscores systemic corruption surrounding the transport bureaucracy. Chandru also navigates a complex personal web, including a budding relationship with Sapna.

Sapna, the daughter of the Secretary of Transportation, falls for Chandru while discovering his entanglements with Aishwarya. She keeps her feelings secret as the relationships become complicated by ambition and loyalty. The triangle adds personal stakes to the unfolding events.

Krishnaswamy traces Senapathy by posing as Swathantra Sainik eligible for pension and confronts him at his house. When Krishnaswamy tries to arrest him, Senapathy and his wife Amirthavalli escape using their martial arts skills and intellect. The chase intensifies as authorities close in.

Amirthavalli meets Chandru in an elevator at a hospital, and it is revealed that Chandru is Senapathy's son. Their estrangement stems from Senapathy's rigid insistence on honesty, which clashes with Chandru's pragmatic approach to modern-day corruption. The family tension deepens the personal stakes.

Senapathy kidnaps and murders a corrupt doctor on live television after the doctor refuses to treat his daughter Kasturi unless bribed. Public sentiment surges in Senapathy's favor as he exposes numerous corrupt officials. The act cements his position as a popular, if controversial, figure.

Chandru uses his bribery network to obtain a safety certificate for a school bus with faulty brakes, leading to a deadly crash that kills 40 children. He even schemes to frame the bus driver by injecting alcohol into the driver's corpse. The catastrophe highlights the moral collapse of his world.

Senapathy catches Chandru and attempts to kill him, but Krishnaswamy intervenes and captures Senapathy. However, Senapathy escapes from custody, fueling a tense manhunt. The pursuit moves toward a broader showdown.

A high-stakes chase culminates at an airport where Senapathy confronts Chandru. In the ensuing confrontation, Chandru is killed in an explosion involving an aeroplane and a jeep. The scene marks the film's violent turning point.

Krishnaswamy reviews the recorded footage and discovers Senapathy escaped moments before the jeep exploded. In a final twist, Senapathy calls Krishnaswamy from Hong Kong to claim survival and hints he might return if needed. The public narrative remains unsettled.