Kamali from Nadukkaveri

Kamali, a playful girl from Nadukkaveri, watches a TV interview of CBSE topper Ashwin who later goes to IIT Madras. His achievements spark a dream in her to pursue IIT and prove herself beyond village expectations. This moment sets Kamali on a difficult but hopeful journey toward education.

Motivated by the interview, Kamali seeks help from her best friend Valli and considers guidance from the retired professor Arivudainambi. Her father, wary of educating a girl, imposes a harsh condition: if she fails, she must marry a relative. Subramani, their schoolteacher, suggests she seek out Arivu for coaching.

Arivu initially refuses to coach Kamali, irritated by her tactics. The next day he calls to apologize and recognizes her real potential. From then on, he agrees to coach her for Jee Main and Advanced and Kamali begins regular, determined training.

With Arivu's coaching and relentless study, Kamali cracks the entrance exams and earns a seat in IIT Madras in the B.Tech Computer Science program. Her hard work earns her a chance to study at a prestigious institution away from home. The village watches with mixed emotions as she moves toward a new life.

Kamali shifts to her hostel at IIT Madras, sharing a room with an arrogant girl from the chemical engineering batch. She learns her roommate is jealous of Kamali’s higher score and trivializes her victories. Despite the tension, Kamali explains she came in search of inspiration, not romance.

On campus, Kamali becomes obsessed with Ashwin, following him around and trying to catch his attention. She also grows wary of Ashwin’s close friend Priya, who seems to be part of his circle. The curiosity about her 'prince' consumes much of her early IIT days.

When semester results arrive, Kamali learns she has failed. A classmate blames her distraction with love, turning her into the campus joke nicknamed Cinderella. She overhears Ashwin telling his friends that he cannot be the 'joker' Kamali loves, which shatters her.

Feeling humiliated, Kamali confronts her roommate about spreading the rumor. The roommate apologizes, but Kamali refuses to forgive immediately and returns to Nadukkaveri. There she reconnects with Arivu, who now teaches many local kids and reaffirms his belief in her potential.

Back at college, Kamali regains focus and steadily improves her grades with Arivu's renewed mentorship. She learns to prioritize studies over distractions and begins to believe in her own abilities again. Kamali and her roommate rebuild their friendship and start collaborating on a quiz.

Kamali and her roommate are selected to participate in the inter-IIT National Quiz competition, a chance to showcase their knowledge on a national stage. Ashwin initially resents Kamali’s selection, feeling it threatens his friend Priya’s position. The selection marks a turning point for Kamali’s confidence.

Traveling to Delhi for the competition, Kamali awkwardly spills coffee on her dress, risking embarrassment in front of Ashwin. He questions whether she still loves her 'prince,' and she responds that he remains an inspiration. An admirer, Varun Singh from IIT Kanpur, tries to flirt during breakfast, but Ashwin warns her to stay away from him.

In the final round, Varun picks Kamali as his opponent and she answers correctly, clinching victory for IIT Madras over IIT Kanpur. Her family watches the triumph on TV and she becomes an inspiration for Nadukkaveri. After the win, Ashwin realizes she was the girl who inspired him and, on the train home, asks if the boy she loved was him; she smiles, leaving the question open.