Kizhakku Vasal

Ponnurangam performs with his small troupe in village festivals and also works part-time as a labourer for Vijayakumar. He nurtures a quiet crush on Selvi, the daughter of the village headman Valliyuran. His dual existence sets the stage for romance tangled with social power and village dynamics.

Selvi tests Ponnurangam by sending his mother with a marriage proposal to meet her father. Valliyuran's men beat the visitor during the visit, and Ponnurangam's mother dies in her sleep from the trauma. The incident seeds a bitter feud between families that drives the subsequent conflicts.

Thaayamma, revered as a holy lady, leads a cloistered life yet forms a tentative bond with Ponnurangam. They spend time together, sharing stories and solace away from the feud. Her quiet spirituality offers a counterpoint to the village's rising tensions.

Selvi begins to repent for her role in the earlier tragedy and slowly falls for Ponnurangam. Meanwhile, he grows dejected, as the weight of the feud and tragedy dims his zest for life. The romance remains fragile, threatened by families' enmity.

Vijayakumar schemes to end the two-decade feud by arranging his spoiled son Thiyagu to marry Selvi, hoping to claim their properties through his son. The plan intensifies tensions and narrows options for Ponnurangam. This political maneuver raises the stakes for everyone involved.

On the eve of the wedding, Ponnurangam is asked to perform at Valliyuran's house, turning his music into a backdrop for a looming confrontation. The performance occurs under a tense atmosphere as old grievances simmer. His art becomes a quiet witness to the incoming violence.

Selvi apologizes to Ponnurangam for his mother's death and offers money in consolation, but he rejects it firmly, choosing dignity over help. Thiyagu spots them together, heightening the danger of the feud escalating. The scene widens the breach between the two houses.

A confrontation between the rival families erupts, and the wedding plans collapse under the pressure of long-standing enmity. Villagers witness the discord and fear for Ponnurangam and Selvi's safety. The community braces for further consequences of the feud.

The next day, Thiyagu and his men ambush Ponnurangam, stabbing him with a poisoned knife. The assault leaves him gravely injured and at the mercy of those who fear the feud's consequences. Thaayamma and the villagers respond with concern and outrage.

Thaayamma takes care of the wounded Ponnurangam and begins to share her own life story. She frames her experiences as a path of faith that has endured oppression and desire for chastity. Her care deepens Ponnurangam's dependence and trust in her.

Thaayamma was an orphan found by Janagaraj, a street performer, and they traveled village to village begging for food. Their bond forms a surrogate family amid hardship. The memory reveals the roots of her spirituality and resilience.

Sulakshana, a secret mistress of Vijayakumar, takes Thaayamma and Janagaraj into her house, offering them shelter. After a decade, Thaayamma matures and learns about Sulakshana's concealed life. The backstory explains the village's hidden power dynamics.

When Sulakshana falls ill and dies, Vijayakumar tries to exploit Thaayamma's vulnerability, but Thaayamma resists. The episode solidifies Vijayakumar's predatory rule and Thaayamma's resolve to remain chaste. This backstory unfolds to explain the villagers' respect for her.

Hearing about the love between Ponnurangam and Thaayamma, Vijayakumar abducts Thaayamma to thwart them. In retaliation, he kills Ponnurangam's friend Maakan, but the act provokes the villagers to strike back and beat up the abductors. The village's moral order fights to restore balance.

In the closing moment, Ponnurangam and Thaayamma step away from the village, choosing to face the unknown together. Their departure marks a fragile resolution to the feud and a new life beyond the old power structures. The film ends on a note of quiet resilience and mutual support.