Kaththi

In Kolkata, Kathir helps the police trap an escaping detainee but the plan collapses and he slips away from custody. The botched capture sets Kathir on the run and marks the start of a new, more dangerous path. His fugitive status draws attention from both law enforcement and criminal elements.

Back in Chennai, Kathir and his friend Ravi plot a Bangkok escape. Their plan shifts dramatically when Kathir falls in love with Ankitha, changing their priorities and risk tolerance. The romance redirects Kathir from a simple escape to a cause-driven path.

Kathir and Ravi witness thugs shoot Jeevanandham 'Jeeva', a man who resembles Kathir. They rush the wounded man to a hospital and Kathir resolves to impersonate Jeeva to outsmart the police. The decision marks the start of a strategic deception that will drive the plot.

Under the guise of Jeeva, Kathir and Ravi enter a retirement home run by Jeeva with the aim of stealing ₹25 lakh to fund their Bangkok trip. Kathir soon uncovers that Jeeva’s mission is broader: aiding the oppressed villagers against a greedy factory deal. The ruse becomes a catalyst for social justice.

Jeeva emerges as a hydrology postgraduate from Thanoothu who uncovered groundwater for irrigation. A greedy entrepreneur, Shirag, swindled villagers by pressuring them to cede land for a factory. Six villagers take their grievances to the media, hoping for Jeeva's release.

Moved by Jeeva’s past, Kathir adopts the villagers’ cause while still masquerading as Jeeva. He pushes the case before the jury and begins to assert his own rules, challenging the corrupt influence around Shirag. His dual identity complicates the pursuit of justice.

Kathir engineers a ruse with a hairdresser to plant a fingerprint on Shirag’s neck, undermining a bribed juror. In retaliation, Shirag dispatches fifty gunmen to eliminate Kathir, whom he fights off with resourcefulness and grit. The tension escalates into a battle of wits and danger.

Jeeva ends up in Kolkata prison and, with Vivek’s help, escapes along with Vivek’s henchmen. Unaware of this, Kathir leverages media channels to spotlight the villagers’ plight and keep the case alive in the public mind. The escape detours the investigators toward Chennai.

The nationwide outcry swells as Kathir reappears to frame the villagers’ struggle for the media. He ensures the story remains front-and-center in public discourse, pressuring authorities to act. The media blitz complicates Shirag’s position and raises the stakes.

At the Madras High Court, the judge rules in favor of Jeeva and the villagers but warns that overseas supporters must be proven genuine within five days. With the deadline looming, Kathir faces a test of his improvisational tactics and timing. The legal battle becomes a countdown to action.

Desperate to maintain pressure, Kathir orchestrates a dramatic water blockade in Chennai, sitting on pipelines with Ankitha, Ravi, and retirement home inmates. The city feels the impact as citizens clamor for justice and the factory deal is scrutinized. The blockade catalyzes broad public sympathy for the villagers.

A crucial phone call exposes Kathir’s bluff, threatening to derail his plan. Yet Kathir doubles down, declaring that Jeeva is alive and will rescue him, turning a setback into renewed resolve. The revelation shifts the strategic balance and tightens the noose on Shirag.

On the eve of the verdict, Kathir undertakes a bold night operation to Shirag’s office, rescues Jeeva, and kills Shirag. This decisive act disrupts Shirag’s plans and complicates the final legal outcome. The rescue cements Kathir’s role as both protector and vigilante.

The following day the judge declares the verdict in favor of Jeeva and the villagers. Despite the victory, Kathir chooses to surrender to the police, promising Ankitha that he will marry her when released. His surrender marks a moral finale to his turbulent arc.